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.

Espanyol had taken a first-half lead through Valdo, but the hosts hit back with goals from Gonzalo Higuain and captain Raul.

Racing Santander boosted their chances of a place in Europe with a 3-0 win at home to Real Betis.

Aldo Duscher broke the deadlock in the 50th minute and Ezequiel Garay doubled the lead nine minutes later.

Top scorer Mohamed Tchite then added to his 11 Primera Liga goals two minutes from time to complete the rout.

The game's turning point was the dismissal of Betis' Melli minutes after the restart.

Luis Fabiano struck his 20th league goal of the season to help Sevilla claim a comeback 2-1 victory over bottom club Levante.

The Brazil international netted Sevilla's winner four minutes into the second half after Seydou Keita had earlier cancelled out Mustapha Riga's opener for Levante.

Juan Arango smashed a hat-trick as Real Mallorca hammered Recreativo Huelva 7-1 in the performance of the day.

The midfielder started the ball rolling in the 18th minute and two goals apiece for Daniel Guiza and Iglesias Valero gave the hosts a commanding lead by half-time.

Arango grabbed two more goals in the space of three second-half minutes to complete the rout, reducing Marco Ruben's 40th-minute effort to a mere consolation for the visitors.

Deportivo La Coruna fought back from two goals down to earn a valuable 2-2 draw at Valencia and increase their chances of Primera Liga survival.

Valencia stormed into a two goal lead through Juan Manuel Mata and David Villa early on, but were pegged back before half-time as Sergio Gonzalez and Angel Lafita earned a welcome point for the visitors.

Igor Gabilondo struck either side of half-time to ease Athletic Bilbao away from the relegation zone with a much-needed 2-0 victory against 10-man Real Valladolid, who had defender Pedro Lopez dismissed after 56 minutes for abusive language.

Cesar Cruchaga headed the winner for Osasuna as they climbed further clear of relegation trouble with a 2-1 success against Almeria.

The 34-year-old scored from a Nacho Monreal free-kick just before the half-hour, after Enrique Sola had given the home side a sixth-minute lead.

Miguel Angel Corona had equalised for Almeria with 19 minutes gone, and Mane crashed a 25-yard effort against the crossbar in second-half injury time.

New coach Javier Clemente was unable to inspire lowly Murcia though as the promoted side slipped to a heavy 3-0 defeat at home to in-form Getafe.

Pablo Hernandez, Juan Angel Albin and Francisco Javier Casquero all struck in the second half to boost Getafe's hopes of a European place.

Real Zaragoza fought back from a goal down to earn a valuable 2-1 win at home to Atletico Madrid and end a miserable run of four straight league defeats.

Simao Sabrosa gave Atletico the lead, but the hosts hit back when Pablo Ibanez turned the ball into his own net while Diego Milito wrapped up the points for Zaragoza with a late penalty.