| Current Spanish champions FC Barcelona gave up | | | | strong command; the Castellon team surged |
| two of the three possible points in the first game | | | | forward to tie the score. In the opening minutes |
| of the year by drawing 1-1 against Villarreal, who | | | | of the second half, a good combination of David |
| dominated the midfield for most of the game. | | | | Fuster and Cani sent forward a powerful shot |
| The draw came on Saturday in Barça’s | | | | that beat goalkeeper Valdes. From that point, the |
| home territory at Camp Nou; the crowd thronged | | | | game remained balanced between the two teams. |
| in support of the locals, who had attained six titles | | | | Barcelona saw the minutes pass but could do |
| in 2009. But Villarreal spoiled the evening for | | | | nothing against a powerful Villarreal, who also |
| Barça, interrupting a run of four consecutive | | | | struggled to create opportunities to steal the final |
| victories at home and taking away their first two | | | | victory. Either team could have gotten the three |
| league points. The champions opened early on | | | | points but, in the end, the game finalized at 1-1. At |
| thanks to a goal by Pedro, who lost no | | | | the end of the match, Dani Alves acknowledged |
| opportunity to gain coach Josep Guardiola’s | | | | that Barcelona would have to keep working hard |
| confidence. In the seventh minute, the Canaries | | | | after their incredible season last year; he also |
| attacker annihilated Villarreal goalkeeper Diego | | | | credited Villa, which came in with a great game |
| Lopez with an accurate shot, following a rebound | | | | plan and a strong defense. Alves, however, |
| from an attempt by French striker Thierry Henry | | | | thought his team would only improve in the next |
| that bounced off the crossbar. The score moved | | | | meetings. “We'll do everything we can to |
| 1-0, in favor of Barcelona. But Villarreal was not | | | | make sure that this book has more than one |
| shaken. The team maintained its game plan and | | | | page. We've achieved some really important stuff, |
| controlled its frustration after Barcelona’s goal. | | | | but now we've got to keep on working hard and |
| The visitors safely moved the ball and play on the | | | | improving things,” stated Alves. FC Barcelona |
| sides of the pitch. Barça had a great opportunity | | | | played without its biggest star, Lionel Messi, |
| to add a second goal, but Lopez managed to stop | | | | whose vacation was extended by Guardiola after |
| a header from Henry. Villarreal then responded | | | | an exhausting 2009. Messi had played in more |
| with an attempt from David Fuster, who | | | | than 65 official games. Without the bug, the |
| managed to distance himself from the Barcelona | | | | Catalans lacked explosion and surprise in their |
| defenders for a header, which went wide. In the | | | | attacks. Despite this draw, Barça continues to |
| final minutes of the first half, referee Bernardino | | | | lead, at the top of La Liga with 40 points, since |
| Gonzalez Vazquez ignored a penalty from Dani | | | | Real Madrid (38 points) again wasted its chance to |
| Alves against Ivan Marcano, then another from | | | | surpass Barça in the standings this Sunday, after |
| Carles Puyol against Nilmar, which may have cost | | | | drawing with Osasuna 1-1. |
| a second goal for Barcelona. But Barça showed | | | | |