Villarreal 1-4 Barca: Suarez & Griezmann score as Barca keep title hope alive

They took an early lead when Pau Torres turned in Jordi Alba's cross but Gerard Moreno levelled for Villarreal.

Match Reports

Lionel Messi brilliantly won the ball in midfield before feeding Luis Suarez - who curled in from 20 yards - and the Barca captain then backheeled to Antoine Griezmann, who scored a magnificent chip.

Ansu Fati blasted in a late fourth.

La Liga Standings

   

Match Events

3' OWN GOAL! Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona (Pau Torres)

The visitors have had virtually all of the ball in the opening stages of the game and work a slick move down the left that sees Alba with the ball at the byline. He fires a low cross to the near post and Torres sticks a foot out to prevent the ball from reaching Griezmann, but inadvertently diverts it into his own net! It's 1-0 to Barcelona!

14' GOAL! Villarreal 1-1 Barcelona (Gerard Moreno)

A lovely ball from Chukwueze sends Alcacer away in behind, but he can't go all the way on his own and works it wide to the left. Cazorla arrives and fires a low ball back across goal that Ter Stegen can only parry into the path of Moreno, who fires into an empty net! It's 1-1!

20' GOAL! Villarreal 1-2 Barcelona (Suarez)

Messi picked up the ball in a deep position, held off his marker and proceeded to dance through a sea of yellow shirts with mesmerising close control and impressive balance before sliding a perfectly-weighted pass to Suarez, who produced a sublime finish!

45' GOAL! Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona (Griezmann)

Some sharp build-up play sees Messi with the ball on the left side of the area. He plays a clever backheel to Griezmann on the edge of the box, who takes one touch before lifting an audacious effort over Asenjo and into the back of the net! Barcelona now lead 3-1!

69' OFFSIDE! Messi's goal disallowed

The ball is played into Messi's feet and he has three defenders for company, but evades them with quick feet and finds Vidal, who slides it through for Roberto at the byline. It's cut back to Messi on the edge of the six-yard box, and he side-foots home! However, VAR overturn the goal for an offside call just prior to the move that led to Messi scoring.

86' GOAL! Villarreal 1-4 Barcelona (Fati)

This time it does count! Alba plays the ball down the line for the youngster, who reaches the edge of the box and slows up. He then cuts inside Albiol and shapes to shoot towards the far corner, but instead fires through the legs of the defender towards the near post, wrong-footing Asenjo and finding the net! 

Player Ratings