Barcelona 3-5 Villarreal: Barca shocked at home by Yellow Submarine in eight-goal thriller
Barcelona suffered their second defeat in four days after Villarreal struck twice in stoppage time for a dramatic 5-3 victory at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Despite recovering from 2-0 down to lead 3-2, Xavi’s side failed to close the gap on La Liga’s top two as they came out on the wrong side of an eight-goal thriller.
After they were twice denied by the offside flag, Gerard Moreno brilliantly swept Villarreal into a 41st-minute lead, while Ilias Chakkour pounced on Joao Cancelo’s error to round Inaki Pena and double the advantage nine minutes after the restart.
However, the match turned on its head as Barca struck three times in the space of 12 minutes. Ilkay Gundogan pulled one back and Pedri’s deflected strike levelled matters, before Eric Bailly’s own-goal completed the turnaround.
However, Villarreal responded well as Goncalo Guedes fired them level and the visitors struck twice more in a dramatic late stoppage-time twist.
First, Alexander Sorloth pounced after Barca failed to clear their lines, before Jose Luis Morales compounded the hosts’ misery by rounding off a devastating counter in the dying moments.
Talking Point – Barca’s defensive problems continue
Not since August 1994 have Barca conceded five goals in a home match, doing so in their Spanish Super Cup defeat by Real Zaragoza.
Although they did brilliantly to overturn the 2-0 deficit, the Blaugrana’s defensive frailties were exposed once again as the pressure mounts on Xavi.
His side have now shipped in 19 across all competitions in January alone – more than any other team in the big five European leagues.
The former midfielder requires an upturn in fortunes, and quickly.
Player of the Match – Alexander Sorloth
It was a difficult to pick a single player following such a highly entertaining and dramatic encounter and so many brilliant individual displays.
Having worked unselfishly for the good of his team, made the most significant impact and finished on the winning side, Sorloth gets the nod.
The striker provided two precise passes to assist Gerard Moreno and Guedes’ goals. He then got in on the act with his side’s fourth goal that effectively won the match.
The manner in which he scored highlighted the determination he showed throughout the match, in which he contested a joint-high 17 duels (level with Yamal).
Player Ratings
Barcelona: Pena 5; Kounde 6, Araujo 6, Christensen 4, Fort 4; De Jong 5, Romeu 4, Gundogan 8; Yamal 8, Lewandowski 5, Joao Felix 6. Subs: Cancelo 5, Cubarsi 5, Pedri 7, Ferran 6, Roque 5.
Villarreal: Jorgensen 7; Femenia 6, Bailly 6, Cuenca 6, Alberto Moreno 6; Chakkour 7, Comesana 6, Coquelin 6, Baena 7; Gerard Moreno 8, Sorloth 8*. Subs: Guedes 8, Mandi 6, Capoue 7, Mosquera 6, Morales 7.
Match Highlights
41′ – GOAL!!! BARCELONA 0-1 VILLARREAL (GERARD MORENO): It’s a lovely goal as Sorloth squares the ball across the penalty area for strike partner Moreno, who brilliantly beats Pena with a first-time shot into his bottom-right corner.
54′ – GOAL!!! BARCELONA 0-2 VILLARREAL (CHAKKOUR): It’s a howler for Cancelo! Attempting to tidy up Jorgensen’s long kick downfield, the substitute gets it all wrong as a loose touch sends Chakkour clear on goal. The Villarreal winger still has plenty to do, but does it superbly – racing away and rounding Pena before slotting into an empty net.
60′ – GOAL!!! BARCELONA 1-2 VILLARREAL (GUNDOGAN): Ferran is immediately involved as he fizzes the ball into Lewandowski. The latter cannot control, but it breaks kindly for Gundogan, who brilliantly slots into Jorgensen’s bottom-right corner from 20 yards.
68′ – GOAL!!! BARCELONA 2-2 VILLARREAL (PEDRI): Barca are level and it comes courtesy of one of their own. Kounde’s cross is only half-cleared straight to Pedri, whose powerful left-footed strike takes a slight deflection before nestling in the back of the net.
72′ – GOAL!!! BARCELONA 3-2 VILLARREAL (BAILLY OWN-GOAL): The hosts lead for the first time today! Gundogan swings a free-kick into the box from the left flank towards Araujo, but the ball glances off Bailly before creeping into Jorgensen’s bottom-right corner.
84′ – GOAL!!! BARCELONA 3-3 VILLARREAL (GUEDES): Incredibly, we are all square once again as Sorloth releases Guedes, who sets himself before drilling past Pena and into his bottom-right corner.
90+9′ – GOAL!!! BARCELONA 3-4 VILLARREAL (SORLOTH): Unbelievable scenes as Villarreal appear to have snatched all three points. Barca fail to clear a cross into the box and Capoue tees up Sorloth, who is initally blocked by Cubarsi. However, he then beats Pena to the loose ball and pokes it into the net, stunning the stadium into silence.
90+12′ – GOAL!!! BARCELONA 3-5 VILLARREAL (MORALES): A devastating counter by the visitors after Barca threaten a dramatic equaliser. The hosts are subsequently outnumbered with Guedes leading the charge. He then squares it for the onrushing Morales, who has space to take a touch and slide past the helpless Pena.
