Match ends, Villarreal 0, Barcelona 2.
VillarrealVillarreal0BarcelonaBarcelona2
Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored as leaders Barcelona regained their five-point lead at the top of La Liga by beating 10-man Villarreal.
Barca were facing a third successive league game without a win after Suarez and Gerard Pique hit the woodwork.
The game was goalless when Villarreal midfielder Daniel Raba was shown a straight red card for an ugly 60th-minute challenge on Sergio Busquets.
Suarez rounded the keeper to score 12 minutes later before Messi made it 2-0.
Villarreal, who are sixth in the table, made Barca work hard for their 12th league win in 15 matches this season.
It required a fine one-handed save by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to keep out Roberto Soriano when the game was goalless.
However, Barca made their extra man count with two goals in 11 minutes.
Valencia are second in the table, while Atletico Madrid are third, six points behind Barca, after Saul scored their winner in a 1-0 victory at Real Betis earlier on Sunday.
Real Madrid, who hammered Sevilla 5-0 on Saturday, are fourth - eight points behind Barca, who they host on the 23 December.
Line-ups
Villarreal
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Asenjo
- 2M Gaspar
- 3GonzálezBooked at 86mins
- 6Ruiz
- 11Costa
- 28RabasedaBooked at 60mins
- 14Trigueros Muñoz
- 4Borges SemedoSubstituted forCastillejo Azuagaat 48'minutes
- 16Rodri
- 20SorianoSubstituted forRukavinaat 64'minutes
- 17BakambuBooked at 61mins
Substitutes
- 5Marín
- 10Castillejo Azuaga
- 22Rukavina
- 23Bonera
- 25Barbosa
- 26Guerra
- 33Moya
Barcelona
Formation 4-4-2
- 1ter Stegen
- 20Roberto
- 3Piqué
- 25Vermaelen
- 18Alba
- 4Rakitic
- 5BusquetsBooked at 45minsSubstituted forAndré Gomesat 86'minutes
- 15PaulinhoSubstituted forVidalat 68'minutes
- 6D SuárezSubstituted forAlcácerat 58'minutes
- 10Messi
- 9Suárez
Substitutes
- 2Nélson Semedo
- 13Cillessen
- 17Alcácer
- 19Digne
- 21André Gomes
- 22Vidal
- 39Costas
- Referee:
- Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea
- Attendance:
- 21,087
Match Stats
Home TeamVillarrealAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home32%
- Away68%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home2
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Villarreal 0, Barcelona 2.
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Thomas Vermaelen tries a through ball, but Luis Suárez is caught offside.
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Foul by Luis Suárez (Barcelona).
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Sergio Asenjo (Villarreal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Sergio Asenjo.
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Attempt saved. Aleix Vidal (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
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Hand ball by Jordi Alba (Barcelona).
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Attempt saved. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Mario Gaspar (Villarreal).
Booking
Álvaro González (Villarreal) is shown the yellow card.
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Aleix Vidal (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Álvaro González (Villarreal).
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. André Gomes replaces Sergio Busquets.
Goal!
Goal! Villarreal 0, Barcelona 2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Sergi Roberto tries a through ball, but Aleix Vidal is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
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Attempt blocked. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Did you see the tackle?
Unfortunately it'd be red card just about anywhere.