Barcelona edge topsy-turvy affair with Villarreal

Lionel Messi found the net with a stunning right-footed strike to decide what was a topsy-turvy match against Villarreal, with Barcelona keeping the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

The Yellow Submarine twice held the lead at the Camp Nou, with on loan Real Madrid youngster Dennis Cheryshev giving Marcelino’s side an unlikely first half. Neymar equalised on the stroke of half time to ensure Barcelona went into the interval at 1-1.

But the away side found the net once again in the second half, with Luciano Vietto applying the finishing touch following excellent counter attacking play from Giovani Dos Santos and a mistake from Gerard Pique.

Barcelona responded almost instantly when Rafinha fired high into the net to distinguish what had been an accomplished display from the young midfielder, bringing his side level after 53 minutes.

And the Catalans took the lead themselves just two minutes later, with Messi nestling a right-footed, curling effort from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of Sergio Asenjo’s net.

Luis Suarez was withdrawn by Luis Enrique having missed a number of clearcut opportunities, showing his frustration by throwing his boots to the floor when taking his set on the bench. But his misses were not to prove costly as Barcelona saw out a 3-2 win.

12’ ASENJO STOP: Good save from Asenjo! Suarez sends a curling shot towards goal from the edge of the box, but the Argentine goalkeeper makes the stop to send the effort wide of the his own post.

20’ SUAREZ CHANCE: Best chance of the match so far! Suarez swivels eight yards to shoot from a loose ball, but he somehow puts his effort wide of the near post. He can't quite believe that he has missed that.

29’ GOAL! Barcelona 0 Villarreal 1: This is the first meaningful counter attack Villarreal have had in this match, and Cheryshev turns home Mario's initial shot.

45’ GOAL! Barcelona 1 Villarreal 1: The home side are level! Asenjo saves Rafinha's initial shot, but Neymar follows up the rebound to equalise for Barca.

52’ GOAL! Barcelona 1 Villarreal 2: The away side have hit hard on the counter again! A mistake from Pique allows Giovani to get to the byline, cutting back for Vietto to finish into the net.

53’ GOAL! Barcelona 2 Villarreal 2: The lead didn't last long. Suarez chips in for Messi, whose header is blocked only for Rafinha to finish into the empty net.

55’ GOAL! Barcelona 3 Villarreal 2: What a game this is! What a response from Barca! Messi curls a right-footed shot into the top corner from 18 yards.

66’ SUAREZ MISS: How has Suarez not found the net there? A deflected shot from Alves spins up into the air, with the Barcelona striker unmarked at the back post. But from about three yards out he heads wide, while slipping.

80’ NEYMAR OPPORTUNITY: Great chance for Neymar to make it 4-2. Messi plays a whipped cross to the back post, where the Brazilian is waiting, but he gets his feet in a bit of a muddle and can't sort them out to apply the finish.

Rafinha scored his first Liga goal for Barcelona in this match, and his first goal at the Camp Nou in all competitions.

Messi has scored in his last eight appearances at Camp Nou in all competitions (14 goals), the longest such run in his career.

Villarreal are the first team to have scored more than one goal against Barcelona at the Camp Nou in all competitions this season.

As part of Barcelona’s formidable frontline Suarez is delivering. He put on two assists against Villarreal and has taken on the role of creator since making the move to La Liga in the summer. The Uruguayan passed up a number of clearcut opportunities of his own though, continuing his barren run in front of goal. Suarez looks short of confidence when it comes to finding the net right now, so could a rest do his some good?

Having impressed for Barcelona on their Copa Del Rey run this season Rafinha was afforded the chance to start alongside Busquets and Iniesta in La Liga, and the young midfielder didn’t disappoint. His high pressing game was central to the way Barca hit back at Villarreal so quickly after falling behind in the second half, scoring the equaliser himself. On this evidence, he could be Barcelona’s next great midfielder.

Barcelona - Bravo 6, Alba 6, Mascherano 5, Pique 6, Alves 5, Iniesta 5, Busquets 5, Rafinha 8, Neymar 6, Messi 7, Suarez 5. Subs - Mathieu 6, Pedro, Rakitic.

Villarreal - Asenjo 7, Costa 7, Ruiz 5, Musacchio 6, Mario 5, Bruno 5, Pina 6, Jonathan 5, Cheryshev 7, Vietto 7, Giovani 6. Subs - Trigueros, Gomez, Uche.