MX23RW : Friday, November 29 12:38:16| >> :120:12746:12746:
[monks data]
Barcelona logo
La Liga
May 6, 2017 at 5.30pm UK
 
Villarreal logo

4-1

Neymar (21'), Messi (45', 82' pen.), Suarez (69')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Bakambu (32')

Lionel Messi brace helps Barcelona three points clear

Messi brace sends Barca three clear
© SilverHub
Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are all on the scoresheet as Barcelona beat Villarreal 4-1 to move three points clear at the top of La Liga.

Barcelona's deadly attacking trio were all on the scoresheet as Luis Enrique's side moved three points clear at the top of La Liga courtesy of a 4-1 win over Villarreal at Camp Nou this afternoon.

Neymar's opening goal was cancelled out by Cedric Bakambu in the first half, but Lionel Messi helped himself to a brace either side of a Luis Suarez strike to keep the pressure on Real Madrid in the title race.

The match pitted the league's best home attack against the best away defence and it initially looked as though the latter would come out on top as a lacklustre Barcelona struggled to break down a resilient Villarreal side in the opening exchanges.

In the end it took a stroke of luck for the hosts to break the deadlock after 21 minutes when Suarez picked out Messi, whose shot deflected kindly into the path of Neymar to poke home from close range.

Messi was able to get a shot of his own away shortly before the half-hour mark when he collected Ivan Rakitic's pass and got the ball out of his feet only to drag his effort wide of the far post.

Barcelona had looked shaky at the back on a couple of occasions and they were eventually punished for their high line when Bakambu raced through on goal before keeping his composure to slot the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen at his near post.

The hosts had a glorious chance to regain their lead with just six minutes remaining until half time when Messi created space to stand the ball up at the back post for Gerard Pique, but the defender was at full stretch and could not steer his header on target with the goal gaping.

Villarreal responded with a clear opening of their own when Roberto Soriano's cross found Roberto Soldado completely unmarked in the penalty area, but the former Tottenham Hotspur man sent his glancing header wide.

Barca were soon back on the attack, though, and Neymar was the next to come close when he dragged a shot past the far post after finding space down the left channel.

Enrique's side did go into the break with the lead, though, as Messi notched his 50th goal of the season with the final kick of the half when he danced into shooting position before firing a deflected effort into the bottom corner.

That goal was also the 100th scored by the MSN attacking trio this season, but they were not done there and Messi almost added another shortly before the hour mark when his powerful right-footed volley was turned over the crossbar by Andres Fernandez.

Suarez completed the set of that trio by joining Neymar and Messi on the scoresheet with just over 20 minutes remaining, hammering a low strike past Fernandez after beating his marker inside the penalty area.

Neymar could have put the game to bed once and for all shortly afterwards when he was on the end of an incisive counter-attack, but he got his finish all wrong and chipped a tame effort straight at the keeper.

The visitors almost pulled a goal back moments later when another defensive mix-up presented Bakambu with a chance, but Pique was eventually able to scramble the ball to safety.

Any hopes of a late comeback were ended nine minutes from time when Barcelona were awarded a penalty, although replays showed that the officials were wrong to award a handball after Neymar had brilliantly set up Suarez for a shot at goal.

Barca were in no mood to let their visitors off, though, and Messi doubled his personal tally for the night in impudent fashion with a Panenka-style penalty down the middle.

Andres Iniesta and Suarez both had long-range efforts as Barca went in search of a fifth goal, but the hosts were forced to settle for four as they moved three points clear of Madrid ahead of Los Blancos' trip to Granada later this evening.

Villarreal, meanwhile, remain six points adrift of the Champions League places with only two games of the season remaining, while Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad are just a point behind the Yellow Submarine.

ID:297573: cacheID:297573:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6337:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique speaks to the media on December 5, 2016
Read Next:
Enrique pleased to "wear Espanyol down"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Dolphins
17-30
Packers
8pm
Raiders
@
Chiefs
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!