Objectivo.com

Barcelona's title hopes are hanging by a thread with Frank Rijkaard's team eight points behind Real Madrid after a late goal from Jon-Dahl Tomasson helped Villarreal to a 2-1 win at Camp Nou on Sunday.

With eleven games left Barca need a minor miracle to overhaul Real, 2-1 conquerors of Espanyol on Saturday, and prevent their arch -rivals from retaining the Spanish championship.

Xavi Hernandez looked to have snatched a point for Barca after he cancelled out Marcos Senna's first half penalty but Danish substitute Tomasson struck the winner nine minutes from time.

It was a famous win for Villarreal who have completed a league double over the Catalans and are now only four points behind in third.

Two weeks ago Barcelona were just two points behind Real but successive defeats to Atletico Madrid and Villarreal could have ended their title hopes. Rijkaard has guided Barca into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Kings Cup but losing the league title to Real again may prove the final straw for the Barcelona board.