Pellegrini rues dropped Villarreal points

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini was understandably disappointed at dropping two points in the title race as Malaga scored a 90th minute equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Villarreal looked set to go top of the table holding a 2-1 lead going into the dying moments of the match but Portuguese defender Helder equalised in the final minute and Barcelona stay top on goal difference with a game in hand.

“We scored two good goals and had opportunuties to finish the game but in the end we dropped two points,” said Pellegrini. “I wouldn’t say Malaga surprised us because we already knew how they played.”

Barcelona can now go three points clear of second-placed Villarreal with victory over Recreativo Huelva later on Sunday.

After exiting the Spanish Cup to minnows Polideportivo Ejido in midweek, Villarreal wanted to respond and looked set to do just that.

Giuseppe Rossi, who scored in the first minute in Villarreal’s last match, struck on seven minutes and Jose Llorente restored their lead four minutes after the break after Sergio Duda had replied for Malaga.

But Helder levelled for Malaga and while Villarreal stretch their unbeaten league run to 17 games – with their last league defeat coming back in April – the two points dropped clearly irked Pellegrini.

The only plus for the Chilean manager is that rivals Valencia and Real Madrid, two points behind Villarreal, both lost on Saturday with Valladolid defeating Real 1-0 and Valencia falling 3-2 against Sporting Gijon.

Barcelona have had a great weekend so far with their main rivals dropping points and they can turn the screw against Recre later.

Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o scored four goals in Barca’s last league game to take his season’s tally to 13 and the striker feels he is still to hit top form.

“I think my best is still to come,” warned Eto’o. “I have been getting some compliments but I don’t lose focus. When things are going very well, that is when a cool head is needed most.

“The main thing should be to continue winning games. The Recreativo game is our next final. I think that we have to beat every team, not just Real Madrid.”

Champions Real are having a tough time of things with the 1-0 defeat against Valladolid on Saturday the latest setback as speculation mounts that German coach Bernd Schuster could be axed.

“It is a difficult time at the moment but we had a similar situation last season and I am sure we will come out of it,” explained Schuster.

The woes of Real will delight Atletico Madrid fans and their team also gave them something to shout about with a convincing 4-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

Diego Forlan scored twice to help Atletico up to sixth although they are still five points behind Sevilla who also won.

“The fans should be happy because the team turned in a good performance,” said Atletico manager Javier Aguirre. “I hope we continue our ascent and fight for the spots higher up the table.”

Sevilla defeated Getafe 2-0 to move level on 23 points with Real and Valencia.

“The points mean we can aspire to be among the big teams,” declared Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez. “We consider ourselves one of those big teams.”