What a game! Villarreal 3-4 Barcelona: Yamal and Ferran shine in 7-goal thriller

Barcelona prevailed in a seven-goal thriller away at Villarreal, with Robert Lewandowski scoring his first goal of the season to earn them the points.

Match Report

Barcelona travelled to Estadio de la Ceramica in the knowledge that it would be a tough fixture, but nobody was prepared for the breathless affair that they and Villarreal put together.

Early on in the match the Yellow Submarine came close on multiple occasions, with Gerard Moreno and Alex Baena coming close. Yet it was Barcelona who struck first, Lamine Yamal collecting from a corner and picking out Gavi at the back post. Not long after, Barcelona raced forward on the counter, with Robert Lewandowski being tackled on the edge of the box. Yet it only found Frenkie de Jong with all the time in the world to fire into the corner.

From that point it seemed logical that Barcelona would take control, but the reality was far from it. Just 25 minutes had passed when Juan Foyth headed in off the post from a corner, and as Villarreal pushed forward, Alfonso Pedraza found Alexander Sorloth at the far post for an easy tap-in.

Half-time came and went, but the match never lost any rhythm, with Pedraza bursting forward again in the 50th minute, laying it left to Baena, who shaped the ball into the far corner.

The turnaround now complete, Barcelona moved up the gears again, and 16-year-old Yamal saw more of the ball. He cut in and fired against the inside of the post once, and lifted the ball into Gavi in the box on the 70th minute mark. Gavi tried to get his shot away, and substitute Ferran Torres had a second effort blocked too, but his third effort was not stopped by Filip Jorgensen.

Just two minutes later, Yamal cut inside again, seeing his effort saved onto the post by Jorgensen again, only this time Robert Lewandowski got onto the rebound for his first goal of the season.

Ansu Fati and Lewandowski had three opportunities between them to kill the game, but could neither find net nor teammate on each occasion. A valuable win for Barcelona and Xavi Hernandez, a frustrating evening for Quique Setien, who will feel better game management lay between them and points.

Match Events

0' OFFSIDE!

10' What a save from Ter Stegen

12' GOAL! Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona (Gavi)

15' GOAL! Villarreal 0-2 Barcelona (De Jong)

26' GOAL! Villarreal 1-2 Barcelona (Foyth)

40' GOAL! Villarreal 2-2 Barcelona (Alexander Sørloth)

50' GOAL! Villarreal 3-2 Barcelona (Álex Baena)

68' GOAL! Villarreal 3-3 Barcelona (Ferran Torres)

71' GOAL! Villarreal 3-4 Barcelona (Lewandowski)

Line-ups

Villarreal XI: Capoue, Parejo, G. Moreno, Alexander Sørloth, Pedraza, Gabbia, Foyth, Jorge Cuenca, Álex Baena, Filip Jörgensen, Ramón Terrats

Subs: Reina, Albiol, Femenia, Mandi, Denis Suarez, Trigueros, Morales, Santi Comesaña, Ben Brereton Díaz, Adrià Altimira, Yeremy, Ilias Akhomach

Barcelona XI: Lewandowski, Gundogan, Romeu, Ter Stegen, Roberto, Alonso, Christensen, De Jong, Kounde, Gavi, Lamine Yamal

Subs: Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Fati, Álex Baldé, Marc Casadó, Abde Ezzalzouli, Fermín López, Ander Astralaga, D. Kochen, Pau Cubarsí