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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Barça draw earns Camp Nou's wrath

/noticias.info/ President Joan Laporta said "it seems no one wants to win this league" after FC Barcelona failed to silence their critics, drawing 0-0 at home against Getafe CF.

Off the woodwork
With leaders Real Madrid CF held 1-1 at RCD Mallorca on Saturday, Barça had the chance to cut the champions' lead to five points against UEFA Cup quarter-finalists Getafe. However, Samuel Eto'o, Giovani Dos Santos and Xavi Hernández all hit the post on a frustrating evening, and with second-placed Villarreal CF losing 2-0 at Sevilla FC, Madrid ended the weekend with their advantage increased.

Crowd disapproval
The result left Barcelona level with Villarreal on 59 points but still third in the table, and after the final whistle, the Camp Nou crowd showed their disapproval of a side who have won just three of their last ten games in all competitions, waving white handkerchiefs. "We have to respect the crowd's opinion," said Laporta. "We had to win tonight and we didn't. We fought, we could have scored but we hit the woodwork."

'All support'
Eto'o certainly understood the supporters' frustration, but urged them to get back onside for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final return against FC Schalke 04. "The crowd voiced their anger but I hope that from now on it'll all be support," said the striker. "We have to move on because we still have important things at stake like the Schalke match. We need the crowd behind us for that." Coach Frank Rijkaard, whose side lead 1-0 after the away leg, added: "You can't blame the players because they fought for the full 90 minutes. It's at times like this when we have to back the team and be united."

Getafe worry
Getafe, meanwhile, were overjoyed at the final outcome, which leaves them 12th in the 20-team Primera División. "It's a fantastic result and it feels like a victory," said coach Michael Laudrup, whose side have taken four points from their games against Barcelona this season. Pablo Hernández and Mario Álvarez both came off with injuries in the first half, however, and are doubts for Thursday's UEFA Cup home game against FC Bayern München, with the quarter-final tie level at 1-1 after the first leg. notas_de_prensa_archivo