Barcelona: Pinto; Montoya, Marc Bartra,
Piqué, Jordi Alba; Alex Song (Xavi 61'), Busquets, Iniesta; Alexis
(Pedro 83'), Cesc Fàbregas (Sergi Roberto 86'), Neymar. 4-3-3.
Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo, Mario, Musacchio, Dorado, Jaume
Costa; Tomás Pina; Javier Aquino (Jonathan Pereira 73'), Manu Trigueros,
Edu Ramos (Uche 63'), Hernán Pérez (Jokic 68'); Giovani. 4-1-4-1.
Goals:
1-0. 30. Neymar (penalty). After Mario blocked Alba's
cross with arm inside area.
1-1. 48. Musacchio. Got in front of Bartra to
head Trigueros corner wide of Pinto.
2-1. 68. Neymar. Turned ball in from
close up after Alexis played back Cesc cross.
Yellow cards: Trigueros 37', Neymar 84'.
Barcelona beat fifth placed Villarreal 2-1 on Saturday evening to move three points clear at the top of the table pending Atlético's game on Sunday. Alex Song hit the upright before Neymar followed up his midweek hat-trick with the opening goal, converting a 30th minute penalty after Mario handled in the area. Sergio Asenjo did well to keep out Alexis when he got free on goal before the break, but just three minutes after the restart Musacchio headed the equalizer from a Trigueros corner. The introduction of Xavi settled the ship however, and Asenjo produced another good save from Fàbregas before the ex Arsenal midfielder combined with Alexis to set up Neymar for his second of the evening. After that Barça pushed forward looking for another goal to make sure of a 23rd successive home win in the league, but although Iniesta tested Asenjo again and Neymar fired a shot against the bar, the result was in doubt until the final whistle.