Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were decisive right at the end, as Barcelona drew 4-4 at Villarreal when defeat looked certain.
Match Report
Stunning late goals from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez spared Barcelona's blushes as they rescued a 4-4 draw with Villarreal in an incredible contest at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Tuesday.
Villarreal looked to have breathed life back into LaLiga's title race after they came from 2-0 down to lead 4-2, but substitute Messi – who had been rested – and Suarez remarkably secured a share of the spoils to keep Barca eight points ahead of Atletico Madrid ahead of their meeting on Saturday.
A thrilling first half saw Barca race into a 2-0 lead against the run of play, with Philippe Coutinho and Malcom finding the net, but Samuel Chukwueze deservedly got Villarreal back in the contest after a rapid counter and a Marc-Andre ter Stegen error allowed Karl Toko Ekambi to level just after the break.
Player Ratings
Match Events
12' GOAL! Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona (Coutinho)
COUTINHO PUTS BARCA AHEAD!! 1-0!!! The visitors cut open the Villarreal defence with ease down the right flank, which allows Malcom to tee up Coutinho for a simple tap-in. Sergi Roberto starts the move with a ball down the right flank for Malcom. He collects and sprints into the right inside channel before placing a low ball across the face of goal for Coutinho to convert. A VAR check confirms that neither Barcelona player was offside.
16' GOAL! Villarreal 0-2 Barcelona (Malcom)
BARCELONA NOTCH THEIR SECOND!!! 2-0!!! Malcom notches his first LaLiga goal with a finely placed header beyond Asenjo to put his team in command. Vidal was afforded space and time on the right flank to lift a cross to the back post. Malcom was there and he angled his header to find the corner. A fine finish from the Brazilian.
23' GOAL! Villarreal 1-2 Barcelona (Chukwueze)
CHUKWUEZE GETS A GOAL BACK!!! 2-1!!!! Villarreal are back in the game completely against the run of play. Chukwueze runs at Lenglet down the right inside channel and fires the ball low towards the target. His effort takes a slight deflection before striking the post. The forward is alert to pounce on the rebound and with his left boot, he places his strike into the opposite corner. Game on.
50' GOAL! Villarreal 2-2 Barcelona (Ekambi)
EKAMBI EQUALISES!!! 2-2!! Villarreal are back in the game as the forward finds the back of the net, although it's not a great look for Ter Stegen. Ekambi breaks down the right flank and keeps the ball in play. He speeds away from Lenglet before clipping a strike towards goal. Ter Stegen expects him to go across the face of goal to find Chukwueze, but he goes for the corner and finds the net. A fine effort if Ekambi meant it.
62' GOAL! Villarreal 3-2 Barcelona (Iborra)
VILLARREAL COMPLETE THE COMEBACK!! IT'S 3-2!!!!! Iborra puts his team ahead with a fine finish from close range to complete an incredible turnaround here. Morlanes spotted the midfielder's forward run behind the Barca defence in the left inside channel. Ter Stegen committed himself and the Spaniard lifted his effort over the keeper and into the right-bottom corner. What a game.
80' GOAL! Villarreal 4-2 Barcelona (Bacca)
BACCA MAKES IT FOUR!!!! 4-2 VILLARREAL!! WHAT A PERFORMANCE!!! The league leaders are imploding here as the home side take a huge stride towards the three points. Cazorla releases Bacca through the middle with a delightful throughball. The striker still has a lot to do, but he holds his composure to round Ter Stegen before slotting the ball into the back of the net. An incredible second-half display from Calleja's men.
86' Second Yellow Card! Gonzalez sent off
OFF! Gonzalez puts his team under unneccessary pressure with a late dismissal. He was already on a booking and flew into a challenge with Suarez. The referee had no alternative but to send the defender on his way.
90' GOAL! Villarreal 4-3 Barcelona (Messi)
MESSI SCORES!!! BARCELONA HAVE LIFE!!! 4-3!!! Of course the Argentine finds the net to set up a tense finale. It's a super effort from Messi as he curls his effort towards the left side of the goal. The ball strikes the inside of the post and nestles into the back of the net. Game back on!
93' GOAL! Villarreal 4-4 Barcelona (Suarez)
SUAREZ SCORES!!! INCREDIBLE SCENES!!! 4-4!!!! Barcelona rescue a point at the death to deny Villarreal an important three points. Pedraza fails to clear the danger from a Barcelona corner and Suarez pounces on the loose ball. He hammers a low strike towards the bottom corner with his left boot and it flies past Asenjo. It was struck superbly and gave the keeper no chance. Somehow the Catalan club avoid defeat.
Line-ups
Villarreal XI: Sergio Asenjo, S.Cazorla, Iborra, Gaspar, V.Ruiz, R.F Mori, A.González, Ekambi, Manu Morlanes, Pedraza, S. Chukwueze
Subs: Bonera, Andrés Fernández, C. Bacca, Xavi Quintillà, Dani Raba, Iván Martín, S. Cáseres
Barcelona XI: L. Suárez, Vidal, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, M. ter Stegen, S.Roberto, S. Umtiti, Lenglet, Arthur, Malcom
Subs: L. Messi, Prince, Piqué, I. Rakitić, Semedo, Carles Aleñá, Iñaki Peña
Gabrieljackson
669
to be honest freekicks are becoming too easy for messi
CristoJosep
396
It seems that Umtiti dont want for barca anymore.It were an easy money that game,but defence failed today.And absence Semedo was a fully mistake.Coutinho and Umtiti must go to other club and De light must come or other good CB.Thank you god for listen my praying for Malcom who shows he will be much needed in this squad.And thank you God for Messi our savior.God bless you and your family.Today Villareal present how to use a young fast players,but let be fair Umtiti and Lenglet today was like on Sunday's walk,and they nearly called Villa players to come and make some problems.Thanks to Malcom,King Messi and Suarez for faith and believe that nothing is inposible.
Malay_Pandey
317
It was a horrible performance by Barca. This game shows how weak we are in the defence. We didn't had the chemistry between players on field especially in the defence. We are too vulnerable when Pique doesn't play because he is the one and only leader of defence in Barça. Lenglet and Umtiti are both good but they need to keep their positioning right. When Pique plays, he instructs them to keep their positions right and also has a good chemistry with Lenglet. Umtiti had a game to forget. His passes were weak and he was clumsy. I think that the board should sell him so that we get good money for him and buy De ligt who is a leader in the defence and hence can be successor to Pique. The midfield is also stabilized by Busquets and Rakitic and today Busi didn't play well while Rakitic did not play. Vidal does make the game more dynamic but he is not able to control the game in midfield. We do need Rakitic for more years and the board should consider selling Vidal instead. Overall we were saved by the GOAT and El pistolero but something needs to be done so that the trophies keep coming. Visça el Barça
TheOneAndOnlyJ
313
Moment of silence for those who did not watch this match. Villareal did extremely well. They made awesome attacks hitting weak points in our defense, but our fighting spirit is not to be trifled with. Dont upset Messi and Suarez, they are beyond Worldclass. They live for these moments. Im sorry Villarreal but Barcelona is too awesome 👏🏽. Sad that rotations did not work.. draws for alot of concern.. only defensively tho. If the defense was tight it would have been 2 nil. [Cheer][Cheer][Cheer][Cheer]
footballfanatic7298
290
Before blaming valverde, this was actually a good thing. Now we know that defence need a leader and pique has to be there for top games. Also, starting vidal isn't same as bringing him as a sub. If you don't take risks then we will have another roma. I for once acknowledge and appreciate valverde sticking to his plan despite us going down. This isn't a disaster, we can go full throttle on Saturday and in UCL now which are more important games.
Motbdlp
225
first of all pointing out to those who were asking for rotations,do you see how vulnerable barca can be its not easy managing these players and keeping them at this level we were 2-0 up and even some of the starters began performing very very poor see the performance of ter stegen tonight the moment he concided the first goal he lost confidence this reminds me of celta vigo last two seasons we need to give valverde credit and believe what his doing the barca way of play is very difficult and you cant just throw anyone out there to play malcom is improving lastly two left footed centre backs was a real problem too
EmbraceStarboy
211
To those who think Suarez dived, football isn't a game played in the church or for holy people. it's a game played with experience and strategies and at the end it's the win that matters the most. Whether foul or no foul we received a point and that's the most important aside that all haters can return to their caves quietly.
yeudekos
181
Mr Valverde!Why to put the whole team and fans into such a pressure and tension?just for your fantasist so called illogical rotations!!!You make all of us unhappy...a draw for this game equals losing. If you do so Saturday don't expect to win against Atletico...do you know they are just knocking on the door!!!They are 2nd and they will be at just 4points ...pls we need at least this laliga because you can't win UCL with your mindset...
entecto71
178
Beautiful match, 8 goals, Barca showed why they are a team to be feared in this season’s UCL. Messi and Suarez once again come to Barcelona’s rescue. They’ve done it twice before in the CDR, and now again in La Liga. They are crucial for Barca especially Messi 🦁. As a Juve fan I kind of wanted them to lose but they proved me wrong once again 😅. Congrats 🎉
messi_is_my_god
176
I think we can all say we learned one thing from this match. umtiti is not ready yet and if his form doesn't pick up then he isn't going to get playing time. in the match umtiti asked her stegen to play the ball to sergi Roberto when he was gassed but at all times he should be asking for it. also he kept a lot of pressure on lenglet and made him look bad because of umtitis bad positioning. another thing is I have to applaud funes Moris performance, especially in the second half. until Alvaro was sent off he was bossing everything in the back but then he got to pressurized by the GOAT and El pistolero who respectfully fought back. great goals from both of them as well
PrinceSl
153
What an intense match? Barcelona went 2 goals up and threw it away, Villarreal did same too. Fair result though Villarreal needed the 3 points more. Messi is something else, I always imagine what will be of Barcelona if he retire or leave. We will just be normal teams like Man United that Wolves beat everyday.
iceyez
136
I really feel for Villarreal, they had it in the bag until they were shot down by strokes from geniuses
Romeo23
125
Y’all fake barca fans better stop complaining about valverde, before this game everybody was like he better rotate he better rotate now that he did it y’all complaining bout him, yall a bunch of ass holes, valverde did a good job and we drew coz villereal’s defense wasnt easy to crack, they were playing 5at the back 4 in the midfield and 1 attacker and instead of u being happy we didnt loose yall out here blaming valverde, stupid people, if u can coach better go coach then....senseless fans
VanishPrasad
112
Defenders try to follow him on Facebook and he comes out of Twitter!
VanishPrasad
111
This is a disgrace. No foul was made here and little contact only. Suarez went down as if he broke his legs and was about to die. He got back up perfectly after the Villareal player received the red card.
luncheon
98
Defenders trying to block messi from shooting under the wall for the 3rd game in a row
Dohtmhan
74
MESSI LOOKING FOR FREEKICK CHALLENGERS 🤣🤣
FabulousNwuko
47
Who else is noticing the way opponents are planning on stopping messi's freekick.... (1) 1 lies on the ground incase he wants to play it low (2) 1 backpedals to clear it out incase he wants to play a panenka....Smh.....Still using working....
SteaveMalagal
43
Men thank God. i thought for once we will loose the match. but Oh Boy, Messi was great. did you see that Freekick ! only the best in the world can do that
TheLion
43
Time to sell Umtiti
atwalinder
42
Free kick is like a penalty for Messi🔥🔥🔥
Jean55
38
What the hell 😂 Barcelona I took my hat off in front of you guys. You guys are some monsters 😂.
zucceikmst
31
where is the 4th goal for bacca here?????
[image]
it wa sin the last minute of extra time, Suarez scored. Because All football register these things the second the whistle blows it takes time to update.
Asap12
10
ANOTHER farmer's league