Barcelona snap winless streak as Carles Alena scores first Liga goal
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:
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
13 minutes
Close for Villarreal. Moreno strikes the post after a quick counter attack and Barcelona manage to clear. A warning for the hosts, who can't afford to switch off defensively.
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
16 minutes
The last few minutes have been much better from the visitors' perspective. Ter Stegen has been forced to make a couple of - admittedly comfortable - saves and Barcelona are no longer entirely dominant.
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
17 minutes
Rakitic fires a shot from the edge of the box which whistles past Asenjo's near post. Not too far away.
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
18 minutes
Lenglet is in the book for what the referee deems to be a high foot. He certainly hasn't been shy with cards in the early stages of this one.
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
21 minutes
Barcelona haven't quite found their rhythm in the final third yet. Jordi Alba and Messi link up nicely on the left, but the full back's cross is too long and evades everyone.
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
23 minutes
Dembele works some space on the edge of a congested box and tries to curl a shot into the far corner. He doesn't quite catch it right, though, and Asenjo saves comfortably.
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
26 minutes
A brilliant, weaving run from Messi can only be stopped in one way: with a foul. González is in the book.
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
27 minutes
Messi hits the target with the free kick this time, but there's not enough power to beat Asenjo, who clutches the ball to his chest.
Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal
31 minutes
Villarreal have been compact and resilient in defence so far, but there was little they could do to stop Barcelona's last move. One touch passing on the edge of the box, quick, darting movement. Dembele has a shot that looks like it's heading in, but it's blocked by a yellow shirt.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal (Pique)
35 minutes
The pressure has been building over the last few minutes and Barcelona take the lead. Dembele swings a cross into the box at the second attempt after a poor corner, which is met by Pique. His header down has just enough on it to beat Asenjo, who gets a hand on the ball but can't keep it out.
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