Barca edge past stubborn Villarreal

The visitors went into the game looking to restore their five-point lead at the top of La Liga, but often found themselves frustrated in a first half that the hosts arguably edged.

It could have been a very different story though had Gerard Pique’s fourth-minute header from a corner from the left dropped a couple of inches lower instead of crashing back into play off the crossbar. Remarkably, that was the 20th time that Barca have hit the woodwork this season, with Lionel Messi responsible for nine of those efforts.

Villarreal were next to threaten as Raba tried to loop a header over Ter Stegen from 18 yards, but managed only to head straight at the Barca stopper.

The German was seriously tested though with 16 minutes on the clock and as he has done so often this season, he passed the test with flying colours.

Mario Gaspar got away down the right and crossed for Roberto Soriano, who struck a sweet volley goalwards. It looked destined for the corner, but Ter Stegen flew across his goal and produced a big save with his left hand to maintain parity.

Soriano looked Villarreal’s biggest threat, with Lionel Messi unsurprisingly fulfilling that role for Barca.

The Argentine saw a free kick saved by Sergio Asenjo and curled a low effort just wide of the post either side of Soriano firing wide from range.

Neither team was able to find a breakthrough though and the teams went in at the half level.

Barca still didn’t look at their fluent best as the game moved into its second period, though Messi once again went close as he strokes just wide of the far post from 12 yards after being found by Jordi Alba, who grew in stature as the game progressed.

Barca were handed a huge boost on the hour mark, as Villarreal youngster Raba was given his marching orders after a rash challenge on Sergio Busquets.

That red card led to the withdrawal of Soriano and with it, Villarreal’s threat.

The game resembled a training game from that point, with wave after wave of Barcelona attack.

The Catalans hit the woodwork for the second time in the game after 67 minutes, when Luis Suarez met Alba’s fizzing cross from the left before Asenjo, but he could only guide the ball against the far post and to safety.

Just minutes later Messi swept into the side-netting after being fed by Alba, with it feeling like only a matter of time before the visitors got their noses in front.

That proved to be the case as Suarez found the net less than 60 seconds later. The Uruguayan exchanged passes with substitute Paco Alcacer on the edge of the Villarreal box, before showing supreme composure to round Asenjo and roll the ball into the empty net.

Manuel Trigueros called Ter Stegen into action with 14 minutes to go with a thumping strike from range but the German beat his effort to safety.

That proved to be a rare foray forward for the home side, with Barca looking more like extending their lead late on than surrendering it.

And so it ended up being. Jaume Costa cheaply surrendered possession to Busquets inside his own half and the anchor man found Messi, who darted through two challenges before powering home.

Barca could have further piled the misery on Villarreal late on but a two-goal deficit was sufficient to go five points clear once again and continue their fine record against the ‘Yellow Submarine.’