Barca - 0, Villareal - 0, Barca's La Liga Defense Could be Over

FC Barcelona could have handed over the Liga title to Real Madrid unofficially after drawing away at 17th placed Villareal. The lead at the top of the summit is seven points which could be too much for our boys to climb. Already with a very depleted side, we weren't helped by Guardiola's decision making all night. And whatever he gives as excuse, he had to take teh majority of the blame for this performance. Leaders Real Madrid won earlier in the night and that took their lead at top to 8 points. With 14 first team players only available, Guardiola had not much choice to pick the first eleven. Victor Valdes came back a sthe keeper. The defense had Puyol, Pique, Mascherano and Abidal. Xavi, Busquets and Fabregas made up the midfield. And Adriano, Alves and Messi fromed the forward line. We were so stretched that we have to take Sanchez to the stadium eventhough he was injured, because Pedro picked up a late injury problem.

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El Clasico Review, A Day After

Thank God, It's over, that definitely was the reaction of every Barca fan once they heard the final whistle. I don't remember that in recent history we coming out with such a reaction towards the end of any match. That was the way we performed in this match, may be that's how they performed. From being a regular exercise of Barca winning Clasico matches, suddenly they were once again back to the promised intensity. It was once again back to being a contest between the best in the world, our complacent approach made that very much possible. No one in their ideal state of mind never thought Barca will haved to suffer this much to go through, but in the end they did precisely enough to hold on and maybe it's better to say Real Madrid didn't do enough infront of the goal. And precisely that what was the problem - When you play the best team in the world, you cannot afford to miss their chances. Barcelona at the same time made it all simple for Real Madrid with a defensive display, which would have made school boys embarassed. But then you cannot expect this team to be on top of their game all the time. We may feel a bit diasppointed by their display, but we have no right to complain. This team has given us so much that it's ungrateful to criticize the team for a minor blip, and that too a blip which never cost us. And that's what worrying for Mourinho - his team threw evrything at Barca but still couldn't win.

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FC Barcelona -2, Real Madrid -2 Highlights