Barcelona were made to work incredibly hard by way of Villarreal on Saturday night time, sooner or later securing a scrappy three-1 victory which become now not as comfortable as that scoreline can also endorse.
The score could have without problems been three-1 in Barcelona's favour after just ten minutes. Ez Abde's header became saved nicely, Arnaut Danjuma's strike become blocked with the aid of Gerard Pique, and Memphis Depay and Gavi each missed excellent chances inside 30 seconds of every different.
Memphis they wasted a fair higher risk midway via the half of, reducing huge while one-on-one with Geronimo Rulli, and then Villarreal started to develop into the game.
Pau Torres rose maximum from a corner and effortlessly ought to have scored, however Barcelona's defenders nowhere to be seen and Marc-Andre ter Stegen flinging himself to the ground in desperation.
Danjuma and Alfonso Pedraza both spurned extremely good chances themselves, and one way or the other, the first half completed goalless.
Just two minutes into the second 1/2, Barcelona have been in the lead. Frenkie de Jong tapped domestic from near range, and his effort became allowed to stand after a prolonged VAR check.
We then got a repeat of the first half, most effective without the aim action. Both facets loved plenty of possession and had masses of goes at locating a course to intention, and it changed into Villarreal who bagged the subsequent goal.
With 15 mins to head, substitute Samu Chukwueze discovered himself thru on aim and his photograph become too fierce for Marc-Andre ter Stegen to maintain out.
Villarreal ruled the very last degrees and will have had two or three, however a route-one ball as much as Memphis furnished the winner for Barcelona. The Dutchman capitalised on some terrible protecting to round the Villarreal goalkeeper and flex his composure by means of tapping into the lower back of the internet to store the day.
Substitute Philippe Coutinho bagged a third from the penalty spot in injury time, sealing a busy victory for Xavi's facet.
