Five-star Barca maintain unbeaten run with impressive Villarreal victory

La Liga champions Barcelona maintained their unbeaten run with an impressive 4-1 victory over Villarreal on Wednesday.

Barca were given a guard of honour by their opponents before the game, just a few days after Real Madrid elected not to in the Clasico.

And the champions made an electric start as Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring 11 minutes in when he tapped home after Sergio Asenjo could only parry Ousmane Dembele’s effort following a superb run from the Frenchman.

Barca then turned on the style as Andres Iniesta’s superb ball found Jordi Alba and he squared to Paulinho to tap home for the second.

Iniesta was at the heart of the action again for the third as he exchanged a glorious one-two with Lionel Messi that allowed the Argentine to volley home.

Villarreal got one back in the second-half but Barcelona responded as Dembele deservedly got on the score-sheet and then added a second for good measure late on with a fantastic chip.

they are now just two games away from a historic unbeaten season.

For this match, Ernesto Valverde reverted to the 4-3-3 formation used by his predecessor Luis Enrique, using Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele to flank Lionel Messi in attack. Imagine this lineup, but with Antoine Griezmann in Coutinho’s place and Coutinho taking the place of Andres Iniesta in midfield. Is this how Barcelona could shape up next season? Was this Valverde testing the water ahead of a change of system and shape?

The Frenchman’s immediate future at Barcelona has been in question in recent weeks, with speculation linking him with a summer move away from Camp Nou. But this was a demonstration of what Dembele can offer Barca. Flanking Messi, the 20-year-old gave the Catalans an outlet on the right side, showing great trickery to create the first goal and capping his display with a brace of his own late on. Barcelona would be foolish to give up on such a talented youngster after just one season.

Barcelona - Cillessen 7, Semedo 6, Pique 5, Vermaelen 6, Digne 7, Paulinho 6, Busquets 6, Iniesta 8, Coutinho 8, Messi 7, Dembele 9. Subs - Mina 4, Suarez 5, Rakitic 6.

Villarreal - Asenjo 6, Mario 5, Alvaro 5, Ruiz 5, Jaume 6, Castillejo 6, Trigueros 7, Fornals 7, Rodrigo 6, Cheryshev 5, Bacca 5. Subs - Fuego 5, Sansone 6, Unal 4.

11’ GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal: Asenjo should have done so much better with that! Dembele showed great skill to dribble to the edge of the box, curling a shot towards goal. The keeper spilled it allowing Coutinho to fire high into the net on the rebound.

16’ GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Villarreal: That was a great play from Iniesta! He created that goal for the hosts. Iniesta threaded in Digne, who squared a pass across goal for Paulinho to convert into the empty net from a matter of yards out.

44’ GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Villarreal: Amazing! Truly amazing goal from Messi. He dribbled into the box, beat three men, passed to Iniesta, who lifted the perfect pass over he top for Messi to guide a wonderful finish into the far corner of the net.

54’ GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal: The away side have a goal back! Fornals took aim from just inside the box, with the effort taking a massive deflection on its way through on goal. Cillessen is wrongfooted and the ball dribbles past him.

75’ COUTINHO GOAL CHALKED OFF! The Brazilian playmaker has the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman's flag is on the far side. Coutinho had strayed offside when the pass was made.

88’ GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Villarreal: That's the goal that Dembele's performance deserves. Rakitic created the goal, striding through the Villarreal defence and squaring a pass right across the face of goal for Dembele to finish into the empty net from yards out.

93’ GOAL! Barcelona 5-1 Villarreal: WHAT A GOAL! Wow! Incredible goal from Demebele. He picked up the ball on the halfway line, dribbled past two players and then chipped the ball over the goalkeeper. Incredible!

Philippe Coutinho has been directly involved in nine goals in his last 10 games for Barcelona in all competitions (four goals and five assists).

Barcelona are still on course to become the first team to go an entire La Liga season unbeaten (since the division become a 20-team league).