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 18:45 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

57 minutes

Ruiz is forced into some last ditch defending as Alba drives a ball across goal. The defender is leaning back, but he manages to dig out an adequate clearance.

[2 December 2018 18:48 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

61 minutes

Rakitic drives forward towards the edge of the box and slots the ball through to Dembele. It looks promising, but the linesman has his flag up.

[2 December 2018 18:50 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

62 minutes

Santi Cazorla, who's been quite tonight, finds some space on the edge of the box. His effort flies over the bar. Villarreal have found themselves in dangerous positions tonight but appear to lack the composure in front of goal to trouble Barcelona.

[2 December 2018 18:51 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

64 minutes

There's a pause in play as Alba receives some treatment. It's not clear how he picked up an injury, but he's currently off the pitch looking groggy.

[2 December 2018 18:54 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

67 minutes

This hasn't been overly convincing from Barcelona, particularly after the break. Their passing has been loose and they've allowed Villarreal far more of the ball. Strangely, Valverde's team don't look in any rush to get a second. Given their defensive issues, that might not be a wise approach.

[2 December 2018 18:56 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

69 minutes

Cazorla - who can hit set pieces with both feet - fires a free kick towards goal with his left. It beats the wall but rises over the bar.

[2 December 2018 18:57 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

70 minutes

First change of the night for Barcelona: Vidal is replaced by Carles Alena.

[2 December 2018 18:59 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

72 minutes

Strong defending from Gonzalez. Coutinho links up nicely with Alba and breaks into the box. But the Villarreal centre back is there to slide in and win the ball.

[2 December 2018 19:02 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

74 minutes

Dembele has been frustrating tonight. He's shown glimpses of brilliance, but too often the final ball has been lacking. Again, he finds himself running into space in Villarreal's half. Again, the pass doesn't find a teammate.

[2 December 2018 19:05 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal

78 minutes

Coutinho comes close. He cuts inside and looks to pick out the far corner in trademark style, but his curling shot is just wide.