UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Barcelona bruised by Forlán

Villarreal CF remain third after a Diego Forlán hat-trick helped the side earn a draw against FC Barcelona.

By Andy Hall

Diego Forlán moved to within a goal of Primera División leading goalscorer Samuel Eto'o with a hat-trick in Villarreal CF's 3-3 draw against champions FC Barcelona, while RCD Mallorca dramatically clawed their way out of the relegation zone with a win at the Riazor.

Trophy hoisted
Before the game at Camp Nou, Barça captain Carles Puyol lifted the league trophy aloft, but Villarreal soon spoiled the celebrations when Forlán's majestic strike gave the visitors a 15th-minute lead. Eto'o then sent a penalty crashing against the crossbar but Forlán made no mistake from the spot just before the half-hour mark to give Villarreal a two-goal cushion.

Forlán hat-trick
But the two-goal lead was short-lived as Ronaldinho's far-post header dipped under the bar four minutes later before Ludovic Giuly bundled the ball in from close range to restore parity. Giuly rifled in from an acute angle to make it 3-2 at the start of the second half but Forlán registered his third of the evening on 69 minutes, coolly lobbing Valdés to bring his season's tally to 23; one short of Eto'o's total.

Hopefuls held
Villarreal reclaim third position with 62 points and are one point ahead of Real Betis Balompié after their closest rivals in the battle for the UEFA Champions League qualification places, Sevilla FC and RCD Espanyol, were both held. Sevilla's trip to Getafe CF ended goalless, while Espanyol drew 1-1 at CA Osasuna. Maxi Rodríguez opened the scoring for the Catalan side after just two minutes but Osasuna equalised when Alberto Lopo diverted the ball into his own net shortly afterwards.

Mallorca miracle
Valencia CF keeper Andrés Palop produced a series of magnificent saves to deny Levante UD in the Valencia derby. The point keeps Valencia in seventh but sends Levante into the danger zone after Mallorca lifted themselves out of the bottom three with a 3-0 win against RC Deportivo La Coruña, in a match where retiring Fran and Mauro Silva were carried off the pitch on the shoulders of their team-mates to toast their final appearance at the Riazor.

Late equaliser
Gari Uranga's last-gasp equaliser earned Real Sociedad de Fútbol a 2-2 draw at Albacete Balompié, while Athletic Club Bilbao lost 2-0 at home to CD Numancia. Elsewhere, Málaga CF defeated Real Racing Club Santander 2-0 at the Rosaleda.

Selected for you