VILLARREAL - Barcelona's poor run of form in Villarreal's El Madrigal stadium continued on Saturday as they crashed to a defeat which sees them fall off the pace in the Primera Liga title race.
A second-minute goal from Villarreal winger Santi Cazorla and two first-half penalties from midfielder Marcos Senna were enough to see Villarreal to a comfortable win.
A 24th-minute goal from Barcelona youngster Bojan Krkic was all the visitors had to show following a poor display.
Barca's miserable night was compounded when midfielder Deco was forced off with a groin injury in the second period, with the club later confirming that the Portugal international will be out for around five weeks.
With no Ronaldinho in the Barca line-up following his late return from international duty with Brazil, coach Frank Rijkaard gave a first start to Under-17 star Krkic.
However, Rijkaard's men were caught flat-footed as Villarreal number nine Guille Franco, in for Denmark international Jon Dahl Tomasson, back-heeled for Cazorla to curl the ball home from 12 yards inside two minutes.
Barca, normally so calm in midfield, were being overrun by Villarreal for whom Senna was masterful in the middle of the park.
On 12 minutes former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires went down in the Barca area under the challenge of Eric Abidal. Referee Mejuto Gonzalez awarded a penalty and Senna finished confidently.
In the duel of former Arsenal players, Pires stood out, whereas Thierry Henry looked jaded following two recent appearances for France.
Barcelona got back into things on 24 minutes when Krkic controlled Leo Messi's pass before scoring confidently with the outside of his foot.
That should have kick-started a Barca fightback, but on 33 minutes Pires controlled the ball 30 yards from the Barcelona area, drifted past two challenges and was brought down in the area by Gabi Milito.
Referee Gonzalez again pointed to the penalty spot and Senna once more finished with aplomb to make it 3-1.
Rijkaard swapped defender Oleguer for striker Giovani Dos Santos in a bid to get back in the match, and the youngster responded by showing a willingness to run at the home defence.
Villarreal should have made it 4-1 on 50 minutes when Pires intercepted a poor Abidal pass and bore down on the Barcelona goal. However, he opted to lay the ball off rather than shoot and the chance was wasted.
To Barcelona's credit they never lost their calm, nor did they resort to the long ball game, but Villarreal always looked in control.
Things went from bad to worse after 70 minutes when Deco went down with a groin injury and was replaced by Eidur Gudjohnsen.
It wasn't until two minutes from time that Villarreal keeper Sebastian Viera was called on to make a save as Andreas Iniesta headed goalwards from a Giovani cross, but by then it was far too late for Barcelona.
