Barcelona snap winless streak as Carles Alena scores first Liga goal

A young Lionel Messi plays for FC Barcelona in 2004/05

Injury-plagued FC Barcelona earned their first win in three La Liga matches against Villarreal.

The Catalan side returned to winning ways with a victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in midweek but recorded just one win in November after a thrilling shock defeat to Real Betis and a draw against Atletico Madrid last weekend.

Ernesto Valverde’s men, who welcomed a Villarreal side that had won just three league games all season, were without Luis Suarez, with the Uruguayan having undergone stem cell treatment on his kneel, but goals from Gerard Pique and Carles Alena secured a 2-0 win.

Re-live the action:

[2 December 2018 17:27 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Welcome to live coverage of tonight's La Liga game between Barcelona and Villarreal at the Nou Camp.

Kick off isn't far away now, and we'll have updates of all the action here.

[2 December 2018 17:28 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Here are the teams for this evening's game:

[2 December 2018 17:30 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona are looking to end a run of three games without a win in La Liga tonight. A victory for Ernesto Valverde's side would send them top, ahead of Sevilla's game against Alaves later this evening.

Villarreal, meanwhile, are looking to build on victory over Real Betis in their last game. They sit 17th in the table, though, and don't have a great record at the Nou Camp.

[2 December 2018 17:32 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal

1 minute

The hosts get us underway. Can Barcelona return to the top of La Liga?

[2 December 2018 17:35 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal

3 minutes

The lively Chukwueze bursts down the right hand side for Villarreal and puts a cross into the box. It's too close to Ter Stegen, but a promising start for the visitors.

[2 December 2018 17:38 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal

6 minutes

There's been little in the way of goalmouth action thus far. Barcelona, as expected, have controlled possession, although Villarreal look capable of exploiting their vulnerabilities at the back.

[2 December 2018 17:40 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal

8 minutes

Dembele turns on the style. He picks up the ball on the right and beats Pedraza once, twice, three times, before swinging the ball into the box. 

[2 December 2018 17:41 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal

9 minutes

Barcelona's first effort on goal and, predictably, it comes from Messi. He tries to pick out the far corner with a curling shot but it's parried away by Asenjo.

[2 December 2018 17:43 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal

11 minutes

Ruiz is in the book early for a rash challenge on Messi. He looks to close the Argentine down but succeeds only in barrelling into the back of him.

[2 December 2018 17:45 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal

12 minutes

Messi strikes the free kick towards goal but the wall gets in the way. Then Dembele hits one from long range which balloons over the bar.