FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard after the match: "At this stage it does not look as though the injuries of Larsson and Ezqurro are very bad and I thought that Maxi Lopez came on and worked very hard and created chances for himself. The team as a whole worked hard in order to win and several players put in the effort without having many minutes under their belts this season. The result is very important in the championship race and is a further step forward."


Eight-placed Villarreal had a disappointing night which saw them lose ground in the fight for a European place next season. And they also received a double injury blow with both Villareal players, Juan Manuel Pena and Gonzalo Rodriguez, suffering ankle injuries.


Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini admitted: "It is a big disappointment to lose both of them at this stage of the season, with big games ahead and we will have to see how serious they are. I think that we started with a lack of concentration and were made to pay. We did our best but could not get the breakthrough."