ADVERTISEMENT
THANK YOU!
That's it for VAVEL UK's coverage of this LaLiga Santander match between Villarreal and FC Barcelona - we hope you enjoyed it!
Stay tuned on the site for more live coverage and further analysis and reaction to all top-flight matches for the remainder of the season.
FULL TIME -VILLARREAL 1-4 BARCELONA
Full time here at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Quique Setién's side have run riot this evening with Barcelona at their very best against a good Villarreal side.
Lionel Messi was utterly brilliant, he controlled the game with such ease and was the real driving force behind Barcelona's impressive display.
Barca close the gap to four points to the top of the table and are chasing down Real Madrid.
Villarreal put in a great display in the first half and still have their Champions League dream, however, this evening, they came across a rampant Barcelona side.
91' Messi hits the bar from a free-kick! The ball then falls to Briathwaite, whose header is somehow kept out by Asenjo!
90' Messi smashes a shot at Asenjo from point blank range. Messi deserves a goal, he has been simply sesational this evening.
GOAL! VILLARREAL 1-4 BARCELONA - Ansu Fati
86' A superb over-the-top through ball from Jordi Alba, latched on to by Fati, who cuts inside past Albiol, and wrong foots Asenjo to wrap up all three points for Barcelona.
Barcelona - Substitution
81' Off comes Gerard Piqué. On comes Ronald Araújo.
80' Messi plays in Braithwaite, who tries to round Asenjo but the keeper stood tall to deny the striker.
75' Ter Stegen called into action for the first time in the second half. Chukwueze forces a good save from the German goalkeeper.
Barcelona - Substitution
72' Off comes Sergio Busquets and Antonie Griezmann for Martin Braithwaite and Ansu Fati.
VAR
68' Barcelona have the ball in the back of the net.
Puig plays a ball to Roberto who drives the ball across Villarreal's penalty box, and Messi taps the ball home and gets his name on the score-sheet.
However, Vidal is flagged in the build-up for being offside.
65' So close again from Barcelona.
First Vidal forces a great save from Asenjo, after Messi played a delightful ball to Rakatic who in turn found Vidal but forced a great save.
Then Alba is denied by Asenjo after some lovely football from Barcelona.
62' Riqui Puig nearly had an immediate impact.
A wonderful cross from Griezmann nealry found Puig, who was inches away from connecting with the ball via his head.
Barcelona - Substitution
60' Off comes Nelson Semedo and Luis Suarez. On comes Ruiqi Puig and Ivan Rakatic.
Villarreal - Substitution
56' Off comes Santi Cazorla. On comes Manu Trigueros.
55' Good play from Sergi Roberto down the right hand side.
Came to nothing but Villarreal have defended much better this half.
50' The substitution from Javier Calleja has flooded the midfield. This has plugged the gap that Messi had to attack in the first half.
Second half
45' Villerreal get us started for the second half.
Villarreal - Substitution
Double half time change for Villarreal. Off comes Gerard Moreno and Iborra, on comes Bruno Soriano and Moi Gomez.
Half Time
Half time here at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Some increible football from Barcelona in the first half, with two sensational goals from Griezmann and Suarez the pick of the bunch.
Messi has been on red-hot-form this evening.
Villareal are still in the game, they are formidable on the counter-attack.
GOAL! VILLARREAL 1-3 BARCELONA - Antoine Griezmann
44' Wow. What a goal from Antoine Griezmann!
Messi yet again the man who created the danger. He dribbles through the Villareal defence before back-heeling the ball to Griezmann. The Frenchman then chips it over Asenjo from the edge of the penalty area to make it 1-3.
41' Wonderful football from Barcelona.
They cut through the Villareal defence with ease. Alba and Messi play a lovely one-two before Messi found Suarez on the edge of the box.
Suarez's shot was straight at Asenjo.
37' Brilliant transition from Barcelona.
Messi breaks away from and has Barca attacking with three attackers against one defender.
Messi finds Vidal, but his shot was straight at Asenjo. The Chilean should have made it 1-3.
Villarreal - Substitution
35' Carlos Bacca has come on to replace Alcacer.
34' Villareall are playing with 10 men at the moment. Pablo Alcacer has had to come off due to a suspected muscle injury.
28' After a exhilarating first 25 minutes the game has started to settle. Barcelona in full control, however, Villarreal are deadly on the counter attack.
27' Tantalising ball from Alberto Moreno into Barcelona's penalty box, however, nobody could meet it.
23' So nearly 1-3. Messi again at the heartbeat of the attack, driving his way through Villarreal's midfield.
He again finds Suarez but he struggeld to get a shot off after rounding Asenjo.
GOAL! VILLARREAL 1-2 BARCELONA- LUIS SUAREZ
20' What a goal from Suarez!
Messi powers his way through the Villarreal midfield. He finds Suarez on the edge of the box. The Uruguayan curls the ball delicately over Sergio Asenjo into the top corner.
18' Corner Barcelona
Yellow Card
17' Pau Torres goes into the book for a challenge on Messi. Who has a freekick right on the edge of Villarreal's box.
GOAL! VILLARREAL 1-1 BARCELONA-Gerard Moreno
13' Barcelona were caught out at the back. Ball over the top found Pablo Alcacer who played a delightful ball to Santi Cazorla, who's shot was saved by Ter Stegen. However, the rebound found Mereno who scored his 16th La Liga goal of the season.
8' All Barcelona so far. The Blaugrana front three are cusing havoc with the Villarreal defence.
GOAL! VILLARREAL 0-1 BARCELONA - OWN GOAL PAU TORRES
3' Barcelona open the scoring after three minutes!
Barcelona work the ball well down the left hand side. Jordi Alba plays a low ball across the Villarreal box, and Griezmann forces Pau Torres to turn the ball into his own net.
Kick off
1' Barcelona get the game underway!
Here come the teams !
Kick-off is minutes away here at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
Barca losing their grip on the league title
After Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 1-0 this afternoon, the pressure has been put on Barcelona for the game this evening.
A 7 point gap has been created at the top of the league, menaing the Blaugrana need all three points.
Villarreal's hot form
Since La Liga restarted, Villarreal have picked up 16 points and have put themselves in real contention for a Champions League spot.
Last meeting
Antoine Griezmann is back!
Antoine Griezmann is back in the starting XI following a spell on the bench for the World Cup winner.
Quique Setién had left Griezmann on the bench for the previous two outings, however, he is called up for today.
Iborra is passed fit!
After speculation about a back injury, Javier Calleja can call upon Vincente Iborra to the starting line-up.
Villarreal Starting XI
FC Barcelona Starting XI
Stay tuned!
That's all for now, but check back an hour or so before kick-off for the confirmed starting XI's from this La Liga Santander fixture between Villarreal and FC Barcelona!
How to Watch and Follow Villarreal vs FC Barcelona
If you would like to watch the game then UK Sky customers should visit: https://www.premiersports.com/
However, for following along online VAVEL is your best option!
Predicted XI's
Villarreal: Asenjo; Gaspar, Albiol, Torres, Alberto Moreno; Chukwueze, Morlanes, Anguissa, Cazorla; Alcacer, Gerard Moreno
FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Vidal, Busquets, Riqui Puig; Messi, Suarez, Griezmann
Form Guides
Villarreal form guide: WWDWW
FC Barcelona form Guide: WDWDD
Villarreal Team News
The Yellow Submarine will be without Vincente Iborra, who is out, courtesy of a back injury.
Defender, Ramiro Funes Mori has a long term achilles problem with no return point yet.
FC Barcelona Team News
Three players missing for the Blaugrana for this evening.
Frankie De Jong misses through a long standing calf injury, Samuel Umtiti misses the game too, after picking up a fresh knee problem in training. Ousmane Dembele also misses out and the French winger is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Champions League dream for Villarreal
Javier Calleja's side have their own Champions League dreams to keep alight.
Villarreal find themselves only three points off the top four, and will be hoping they can pick up points this evening.
A must win for Barcelona
Should Quique Setien's side fail to win tonight then the title would be slipping away from Barcelona. A 1-0 win for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao earlier today, created a seven point gap at the top of the table.
Kick-off time
Villarreal vs FC Barcelona will take place at the Estadio de la Cerámica, in Villarreal, Spain.
Kick-off time is scheduled 9PM BST.
Hello and welcome!
Welcome to VAVEL.com’s LIVE coverage of the La Liga Santander match between Villarreal and FC Barcelona.
My name is Edmund Brack and I’ll be your host for this game.
We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.