Barca Back collapsed at Camp Nou
MADRID - Defending champion Barcelona lost two points at home again after drawing 1-1 with Real Mallorca at the Camp Nou on Sunday and was reduced to three points behind leaders Valencia.
Lionel Messi appeared for the first time in league since an ankle injury two weeks ago and scored his third league goal on 20 minutes for the club to the head, but Emilio N 'Sue equalized with a header three minutes before halftime.
Two goals in three home games is a bad result for the club and a draw with Mallorca, together with the shock defeat of the team that promoted Hercules, means that Barcelona had lost five points in the cage.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola was not happy with the loss of opportunity, and said his team does not match the league record last season, collecting 99 points.
"We should have controlled the game but did not and left the two points of the handle," said Guardiola.
"We're not going to have 99 points this season. Collecting points last season is something that is difficult to achieve."
The defending champion of that time remains in third place but now two points behind second place team, Villarreal won 2-0 at Racing Santander on Sunday, and three points behind leaders Valencia, who meet in the Camp Nou in a league match next.
Unbeaten Real Madrid, Barcelona, two points behind in fourth place, now could reach the top of their rivals with victory over Deportivo La Coruna who has never won.
Barcelona Xavi must play without suffering tendinitis and managers Guardiola decided to rest for Spanish nationality player Sergi Busquets, Carles Puyol and David Villa.
However, Messi returned to the order to open the player, and as always dangerous, no signs of an ankle injury that sidelined him.
After the first time for Bojan Krkic and Gerard Pique, the home team the lead when Pedro Rodriguez cleverly lure Messi and Argentina players were sent silently curled shot into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Messi, Seydou Keita and Eric Abidal are getting opportunities but just Mallorca are equal by Sue N `header at the corner of the goal.
Mallorca is much improved after the break and could lead on 62 minutes after a rare error Piqué.
Central defender was wrong to place the bait to reward the ball with Pierre Webo, who kicked hard toward the goal, but Victor Valdes noted, dismissed the face-saving efforts and Piqué.
Bojan effort in order to blow corner after 76 minutes and the Barça press to create the winning goal, but Mallorca survive well.
It was the first away points for Mallorca and sweet gift from her coach Michael Laudrup when he returns to Camp Nou, where he became a star in Barcelona between 1989 and 1994.
Villarreal won 2-0 races on Sunday to win the fifth straight game.
Nilmar Brazilian National Front scored his fifth this season after playing only eight minutes and Giuseppe Rossi scored his fourth league goal in 13 minutes when Villarreal met victory.
In other matches, a new coach Gregorio Manzano Sevilla enjoyed a victory in his debut in the league when the home team 3-1 over Atletico Madrid.
Goals from Alvaro Negredo, Tottenham Hotspur and Frederic Kanoute, Sevilla ensure victory, which rises above Atletico in fifth.
Manzano, who took over after Antonio Alvarez fired, has gained so much in his first game after being a coach, 1-0 in the League with Borussia Dortmund Europe on Thursday, followed by a victory over Atletico.
Atletico hope that they respond to a 0-2 defeat of Sevilla in the final of last season's Copa del Rey, but it was not. (AFP)
