Watch: Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona, Match Review

Barcelona defeat Villarreal away from home and pick up a crucial three points in La Liga, despite a largely unconvincing performance. Xavi’s side started well, and perhaps should have had two or three goals in the opening 20 minutes, but for large periods of the game looked very disjointed and unorganized. Barcelona can consider themselves fortunate to come away with all three points after two late goals.

It was the Catalans who opened the scoring early into the second half, as Frenkie de Jong finished off a rebounded Memphis Depay effort, although the goal was only given after a lengthy VAR check. Villarreal then grew back into the game, and regained total control once more, as they picked up a deserved equaliser through Samuel Chukwueze with just 15 minutes remaining.

When all was looking rather bleak for Barça, it was Memphis Depay who conjured up a late winner out of nothing, rounding Rulli, and finishing through the legs of Estupiñán on the goal line. Barcelona then wrapped up all three points through a Philippe Coutinho penalty.