Barcelona cruised to an enormous 5-1 victory away in opposition to Villarreal on Sunday to retain their place atop of the La Liga desk.
The Catalan giants had been as soon as once more unstoppable as they fired 5 targets previous Villarreal’s defence to ensure yet one more win, simply days after their Champions League defeat to Monaco on Thursday.
Hansi Flick’s aspect sit on 18 factors, 4 away from fierce rivals Actual Madrid and 5 forward of Atletico Madrid.
How the sport unfolded
It was the hosts who leaped into the sport, incomes an opportunity early on as Ayoze Perez delivered a lob end into the again of the web. His efforts had been shortly nullified by the assistant referee’s flag, whereas Barcelona took a sigh of reduction and regathered themselves to push on.
The Catalan giants took the opening menace as motivation to get onto the ball. Lamine Yamal got here near incomes the primary aim of the sport, firing a phenomenal shot in direction of the highest left nook earlier than it bounced off the put up.
Robert Lewandowski wasted no time in gifting Barca a lead, nonetheless, tapping in a intelligent shot because of a sneaky go from Pablo Torre. The Spanish midfielder disguised his help to slip the ball in direction of Lewandowski, who took full benefit of Diego Conde’s place away from aim to place his aspect 1-0 forward.
Yamal and Jules Kounde tried to double Barca’s lead as they unleashed their chemistry down the proper wing. They had been unable to earn something from their efforts, however simply minutes later Lewandowski swung the ball into the again of the web – incomes a brace and throwing Barca into the lead as soon as once more.
Villarreal raced again into the sport as Perez lastly acquired the possibility to etch his title onto the scoresheet after his early likelihood. He hammered a strike along with his proper foot to earn his fourth aim of the season and hand the hosts a lifeline.
Simply forward of the break, Barca confronted a serious blow as Marc-Andre ter Stegen fell to the bottom in agony. The shot stopper pedalled backwards in his try to collect the ball within the air, touchdown awkwardly earlier than being stretchered off the pitch.
He was changed by Inaki Pena – who was handed his first league look since February.
When play resumed, it was Barca as soon as once more who dictated the tempo. This time, it was Pablo Torre who strengthened his aspect’s lead firing a shot in direction of the field that reached the again of the web after it deflected off of Logan Costa.
Lewandowski was handed the possibility to earn himself a hat-trick when he stepped as much as take a Barca penalty after Yamal was fouled contained in the field. The striker took an uncharacteristically low shot that flew into the put up and skewed again out onto the pitch.
However, his miss finally didn’t have an effect on Barca, as quickly the floodgates opened. Raphinha delivered his aspect’s fourth aim of the sport, slamming residence a wide ranging shot from the centre of the penalty space.
Minutes later, he netted once more, this time following a powerful help from Yamal. The Brazilian volleyed a left footed shot in direction of the keeper who did his greatest to forestall it from reaching the again of the web however failed, permitting Barca to take a 5-1 lead.
The sport was over earlier than Villarreal had an actual likelihood to reply, permitting Barca to stroll away with three factors and an enormous victory on the street.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 5/10 – Did nicely to cease Villarreal from incomes a second aim earlier than the break however injured himself within the course of. Ter Stegen’s preliminary blocks weren’t excellent, however his efforts to maintain the hosts silent within the first half did not go unnoticed.
RB: Jules Kounde – 7/10 – Kounde, as soon as once more, was distinctive down the proper aspect of the pitch. His link-up play with Yamal proved to be extremely helpful and he was unlucky to not earn himself a aim.
CB: Sergi Dominguez – 5/10 – Earned himself a spot within the squad with Flick eager to rotate. Usually regarded misplaced however did attempt to contribute when wanted.
CB: Inigo Martinez – 5/10 – One other defender who tried to make a distinction for his aspect however was finally fairly unfortunate in his efforts. Managed to scrape by with a couple of shut calls additionally.
LB: Gerard Martin – 6/10 – A greater efficiency got here from Martin in opposition to Villarreal, who labored exhausting in possession. Defended nicely when remoted on the pitch.
DM: Pablo Torre – 8/10 – Torre placed on an actual present, creating an argument for Flick to think about him within the beginning lineup extra usually. He earned each a aim and help and labored exhausting in Barca’s midfield, unbelievable.
DM: Eric Garcia – 5/10 – Garcia was quiet and did not act with an excessive amount of emotion on the pitch. He made easy passes and helped to maneuver the ball – aside from that he was unused.
RW: Lamine Yamal – 7/10 – Yamal is a continuing, even when he would not rating he proves to be a menace up and down the pitch. Specifically, his help for Raphinha’s second aim was sensational, nearly horrifying.
AM: Pedri – 6/10 – Pedri took a while to develop into the sport, however as soon as he did he commanded some promising play for Barca. He stored his opponent on their toes by sustaining possession.
LW: Raphinha – 9/10 – Raphinha spent a lot of the first half of the sport making certain his teammates had been in the proper positions to attain, nonetheless within the second half he wrote his personal story – scoring two stunning targets. A improbable efficiency.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – 9/10 – Scored an early brace for Barca and was unlucky to overlook the penalty to register a 3rd. Regardless, it was nonetheless an unbelievable efficiency from the striker – who’s actually nonetheless that man.
Substitutes
SUB: Inaki Pena (48′ for Ter Stegen) – 6/10
SUB: Marc Casado (59′ for Pedri) – 5/10
SUB: Pau Cubarsi (59′ for Dominguez) – 5/10
SUB: Pau Victor (59′ for Torre) – 6/10
SUB: Hector Fort (81′ for Martinez) – N/A
Subs not used: Guillermo Fernandez, Ander Astralaga, Alex Balde, Andreas Cuenca, Ansu Fati, Antonio Fernandez
Supervisor
Hansi Flick – 6/10 – Selected to rotate his group, particularly with mounting accidents, however proved to make the proper decisions in trusting his youthful gamers. One other sturdy efficiency from Flick within the dugout.