Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were decisive right at the end, as Barcelona drew 4-4 at Villarreal when defeat looked certain.
2018/2019 La Liga
4-4
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