La Liga - Barcelona 2-1 Villarreal - Match Report
Barca return to winning ways in La Liga, as Arthur scores a stunner in 2-1 victory over Villarreal
Barcelona earned head coach Ernesto Valverde a much-needed 2-1 LaLiga victory over Villarreal but Lionel Messi was substituted at half-time, cutting short his first start of the season.
After a modest start to the campaign Valverde's position had come under increasing scrutiny, yet goals from Antoine Griezmann and Arthur secured three welcome points on Tuesday.
Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla pulled a goal back before the break, but Barcelona's defence stood firm in the second half.
Messi pulled up with a muscle injury just before the half-hour mark and despite returning to the field following treatment was replaced by Ousmane Dembele at the interval.
The Argentina forward, finally able to make his 400th LaLiga start following a calf problem, had been instrumental in his team's sixth-minute opener at Camp Nou.
Messi's cross following a corner picked out Griezmann and the France international headed in from a tight angle.
Barcelona added a second goal in the 15th minute with a thunderous strike from Arthur. Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo could only stand and watch as the Brazil midfielder, afforded space and time, struck a powerful long-range shot into the top of the net.
The visitors pulled a goal back in equally spectacular fashion just before the break, though, when a slick passing move culminated with a fierce drive from Cazorla which flew beyond Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona enjoyed the bulk of possession after the break and had a shout for a penalty when 16-year-old substitute Ansu Fati went to ground, though a VAR check backed up the referee's decision.
Goals/Highlights
Goal! Villareal pull one back in some style! Santi Carzola takes aim from range and bamboozles ter Stagen! 2-1 game on!
Quick feet from Leo Messi!
Goal! What a thunderbolt from Arthur! The midfielder let's rip from 30 yards out and his shot arrows into the top corner!
Goal! Just like that Barcelona take the lead! Messi whips in the corner, and Griezman nods it home at the near post! A dream start for the Catalans!
Peep! We are underway at the Nou Camp!
Live Updates
Preamble
Messi looks focused! Can he make the difference for Barcelona tonight?
The Nou Camp is 62 today! Happy Birthday! This surely has to be one of the best stadiums in world football!
Now for Villarreal! One change from the side that won 2-0 Valladolid! Moi Gómez makes way for Javier Ontiveros in the side. Santi Cazorla will be the central playmaker for the side!
TEAM NEWS! First up, Barcelona! Lionel Messi starts, fresh from picking up the FIFA Best award last night, he starts alongside Luis Suarez and Antione Griezmann! Sergi Roberto, Sergi Buasquest and Arthur make up the midfield! One piece of good news, Ousmane Dembélé returns from injury and makes the bench!
The last time Barcelona and Villarreal it ended in a crazy 4-4 draw! Villarreal striker Samuel Chukwueze grabbed a goal and an assist , can the Nigerian international do more of the same tonight?
Now, this is a blast from the past! Ronaldinho scoring a beauty of an overhead kick against Villarreal back in the day! How impressive was that?!
A quick reminder we get underway at 22:00 Mecca! Good to know that Arturo Vidal is about, will he start this evening? Team news coming up soon!
Villarreal has made an impressive start to the season! They did grab a draw against Real Madrid earlier on in the season! Can the Yellow Submarine get the result?!
So here we go! Just a quick reminder from last night! Leo Messi is the best! Yep, the Barca picked up the FIFA Men's best player for 2019! Which is nice!
Good evening! Welcome to the Live Updates of Barcelona Vs Villarreal! Following a 2-0 defeat to Granada, the pressure is on Barcelona to get the better of Villarreal, a team just above them in La Liga! Will Barca be able to bounce back? Join me for all the build-up, team news and goals as they go in! It promises to be quite the evening!
