Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard insists their title pursuit is not over - despite last night’s 2-1 home defeat by Villarreal.

Jon Dahl Tomasson struck Villarreal’s winner after Xavi had levelled for Barcelona following Marcos Senna’s opener from the spot for the visitors. The result leaves Barca eight points behind Liga leaders Real.

“It is difficult to speak now of this. We are in March and I have not seen any competition that is decided in March. It is necessary to continue fighting in all the games that we have left.

“We do not have to concede anything and it is necessary to continue working,” said Rijkaard.

“It is clear that the distance now (from the leadership) is greater, but it is not necessary to give up.

“When you fail to score the first goal, then the game is more complicated. What we needed was to score to make the difference. I am not going to speak about individual players. It is complicated, we do not have to lose confidence, it is necessary to continue working.”