Barcelona 3-3 Villarreal: FT Report
BARCELONA, May 22 (Primera Liga) - Diego Forlan was the hat-trick hero for Champions League-chasing Villarreal as they picked up a point in an entertaining draw at newly-crowned champions Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
The former Manchester United striker moved within one goal of the league's top scorer Samuel Eto'o, who has 24 - the Cameroonian failing to add to his tally after a frustrating night.
Forlan found the back of the net after 16 and 29 minutes, the latter from the penalty spot, before Barca woke up and hit back through Ronaldinho four minutes later and a brace from Ludovic Giuly either side of half time.
Forlan completed the scoring midway through the second period to earn the visitors a share of the spoils.
A full house watched Barca captain Carles Puyol lift the championship trophy before the match but Frank Rijkaard's side kicked-off as though they were still suffering a hangover from the title celebrations.
Despite missing their key man, Juan Roman Riquelme with a knee injury, Villarreal started well and established a two-goal lead within the first 30 minutes.
Forlan, who endured a miserable spell at United, continued his phenomenal form in front of goal which has seen him break the Villarreal record for the number of goals in a season.
He struck first with a rising shot past Albert Jorquera, who was given the chance to play in goal with the title won, after combining with Hector Font on the edge of the area.
Barca's threat on the Villarreal goal was limited to a wayward Ronaldinho left foot shot but they were given the chance to get back into the game when Eto'o was upended by Quique Alvarez inside the area.
Eto'o, desperate for the `pichichi' (top scorer) crown, took the spot-kick but saw his effort come back off the bar.
A few minutes later Forlan showed the African how it should be done by sending Jorquera the wrong way with a penalty won by Jose Mari after he was unfairly knocked off the ball by Oleguer Presas.
But Barca did find a way back into the match through Ronaldinho, so often their saviour, but this time it was with a header rather than his magical feet.
He powered a header from a Juliano Belletti cross past Jose Manuel Reina at the far post.
The Catalan side then drew level when Reina spilled a Deco free-kick to Giuly who tucked it away at the second attempt after his initial overhead kick had been blocked.
Barca then completed the turnaround two minutes into the second half with Giuly grabbing his second from an acute angle. Ronaldinho's cross evaded Eto'o but reached Giuly close to the touch line and he powered a shot across goal and in off the post.
The game continued to flow from one end to the other as Jorquera denied Jose Mari and then substitute Javier Calleja volleyed wide.
Deco was then guilty of missing the target from six yards out after good work from Eto'o.
Forlan pulled Villarreal back on level terms as a defensive mix-up saw Jose Mari knock the ball to the Uruguayan on the edge of the area and he lobbed Jorquera who was off his line.
Villarreal appeared content with the single point and sat back more while Barca could not add to their three goals despite the introduction of Henrik Larsson with ten minutes to go after six months out with a knee injury.