MSN on target in Villarreal win

MSN all got on the scoresheet as Barcelona defeated Villarreal 4-1 on Saturday to keep them top of La Liga for the penultimate round of fixtures.

Relive the game as it unfolded with Football Espana's liveblog!

Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi, whose brace featured a Panenka penalty, combined to reach 100 goals for a third straight season and capped off a comprehensive victory for Barca.

Lucas Digne replaced Jordi Alba at left-back for the Blaugrana, who also welcomed back Andres Iniesta. Villarreal were without captain Bruno Soriano and dropped Samu Castillejo but went with two up top.

Barca dominated possession and backed Villarreal against the wall from the off, and MSN were all involved when Suarez’s switch to Messi was flicked on by the Argentine for Neymar.

The No 11 proceeded to toe-poke past Andres Fernandez from close range, having been level by the skin of his teeth.

Messi then pulled a shot inches wide of Fernandez’s wide post, yet Barca’s high line was caught cold yet again as Cedric Bakambu broke clear and angled a finish across Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Ter Stegen was out of his box for a moment as his attempted pass to a teammate ended up finding a yellow shirt, but Rodri Hernandez failed to compose himself in time for the lob.

Back at the visitors’ end, Messi did brilliantly to pick out Gerard Pique, but the defender’s header went over.

Roberto Soldado came even closer for the Yellow Submarine, nodding the ball wide after he was found unmarked in the Barca box.

Neymar was soon threaded through on Fernandez’s goal, but he could only fire to the right of the goalkeeper’s far post.

As the referee blew his whistle for half-time, however, Messi shifted to his left and bent a low shot into Fernandez’s bottom-right corner.

Not long after the restart, Neymar eased past Mateo Musacchio down the far left, but his shot was saved by Fernandez at his near post.

The attacker, in his best performance since Barca’s comeback against Paris Saint-Germain over two months ago, then got to the far-left byline, but his cutback was cleared by Musacchio in the nick of time.

Villarreal ultimately caved in a second time as Sergi Roberto teed up Suarez. The Uruguayan then weaved his way past two opposing defenders, before firing past Fernandez, who spilled the striker’s shot.

The victory was confirmed when Messi chipped a Panenka penalty through the middle of Fernandez’s goal after Jaume Costa had blocked a Suarez shot with his arm.

Villarreal could’ve scored a late consolation, but Jonathan dos Santos’ curler from a matter of yards out was saved by Ter Stegen.

Barcelona 4-1 Villarreal

Neymar 21, Messi 45, pen 82, Suarez 69 (B) Bakambu 32 (V)

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto (Mascherano 78), Pique, Umtiti, Digne (Alba 75); Rakitic (Gomes 83), Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar

Villarreal: Andres Fernandez; Mario, Musacchio, Alvaro, Costa; Jonathan, Rodri, Trigueros, Soriano (Castillejo 72); Soldado (Sansone 72), Bakambu (Adrian 83)

Referee: Sanchez Martinez

La Liga - Club News