Barcelona took a giant step towards their third consecutive Spanish Liga title on Saturday with a controversial late 1-0 win at fourth placed Villarreal.
Earlier on Saturday, injury-hit Real Madrid were surprisingly beaten 1-0 at home by lowly Sporting Gijon, ending the unbeaten league home record of Real coach Jose Mourinho after more than nine years.
These results left Barca with a record-breaking 81 points from 30 games, eight more than Real.
Defender Gerard Pique, who scored Barca's winner, said: "This is an important step forward. But there are still eight games left and this is not over yet."
When asked about the reserves fielded by coach Pep Guardiola, Pique said that "whoever plays from this squad keeps us up to the same level, a very high level indeed."
Barca dominated from start to finish in Villarreal, despite the absence of suspended Xavi and despite Lionel Messi's starting the game on the subs' bench.
Even so, Barca keeper Victor Valdes had to make two sharp early saves to keep Guiseppe Rossi at bay.
The only goal came 22 minutes from time, in controversial circumstances. A corner from Andres Iniesta was headed on by Sergio Busquets to Gerard Pique, who controlled the ball with his left arm before making it 1-0 with a fierce close-range drive.
Barca should have scored more goals, but in the end needed a superlative save from Valdes to prevent Santi Cazorla from making it 1-1.
Earlier on Saturday, Real - who had not lost at home for a year - surprisingly crashed 1-0 against Gijon, on a late goal from Miguel de las Cuevas.
Earlier on Saturday, injury-hit Real Madrid were surprisingly beaten 1-0 at home by lowly Sporting Gijon, ending the unbeaten league home record of Real coach Jose Mourinho after more than nine years.
These results left Barca with a record-breaking 81 points from 30 games, eight more than Real.
Defender Gerard Pique, who scored Barca's winner, said: "This is an important step forward. But there are still eight games left and this is not over yet."
When asked about the reserves fielded by coach Pep Guardiola, Pique said that "whoever plays from this squad keeps us up to the same level, a very high level indeed."
Barca dominated from start to finish in Villarreal, despite the absence of suspended Xavi and despite Lionel Messi's starting the game on the subs' bench.
Even so, Barca keeper Victor Valdes had to make two sharp early saves to keep Guiseppe Rossi at bay.
The only goal came 22 minutes from time, in controversial circumstances. A corner from Andres Iniesta was headed on by Sergio Busquets to Gerard Pique, who controlled the ball with his left arm before making it 1-0 with a fierce close-range drive.
Barca should have scored more goals, but in the end needed a superlative save from Valdes to prevent Santi Cazorla from making it 1-1.
Earlier on Saturday, Real - who had not lost at home for a year - surprisingly crashed 1-0 against Gijon, on a late goal from Miguel de las Cuevas.
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