Neymar converted a penalty after Mario Gaspar had handled the ball,
only for the visitors to equalise through Mateo Musacchio's fierce
header three minutes after the break. Barcelona were finding Villarreal's defence tough to break down but
they eventually found their way through in the 68th minute when Neymar
fired home a simple goal.
Barcelona almost went ahead in the sixth minute when Alex Song's
close-range volley hit the post, with no home player following up.Neymar confidently strode up and rolled the ball to the right of the goalkeeper to put Barcelona ahead. The hosts almost doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Alexis
Sanchez controlled a Martin Montoya shot from the edge of the area,
turned and shot only for Sergio Asenjo to spread himself and tip the
ball round the post.
Barcelona went close to regaining the lead when Cesc Fabregas ran on
to a defence-splitting pass, only for Asenjo to block his shot with his
feet. They did, though, go back in front midway through the half through Neymar.
