Goals: Xavi 67' - Senna 31' pen; Tomasson 81'

Barcelona’s Primera Liga title hopes suffered a huge setback on Sunday with a 2-1 defeat at home to Villarreal.

Jon-Dahl Tomasson’s late winner gave the third-placed visitors an unexpected win at the Nou Camp and leaves the Catalans eight points behind leaders Real Madrid with just 11 games remaining in the Primera Liga.

Marcos Senna had earlier given Villarreal the lead from the penalty spot after Victor Valdes had clumsily clattered into Guillermo Franco on the half-hour mark.

And although Barcelona Xavi equalised halfway through the second period, the visitors retook the lead following Tomasson’s strike nine minutes from time.

The result will be more than welcomed by Real Madrid, who had bounced back from their midweek Champions League exit with a 2-1 win over Espanyol on Saturday.

Barcelona: Valdés; Zambrotta, Milito, Thuram, Abidal, Touré Yayá (Giovani 85'), Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Henry (Bojan 65').

Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila, Senna, Eguren, Cazorla, Matías Fernández (Nihat 86'), Pires (Bruno 77'), Guille Franco (Tomasson 64').