Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored the goals as Barcelona recorded a 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal on Sunday night.
Villarreal frustrated Barcelona for long spells, but a red card for Dani Raba in the 60th minute turned the match, and efforts from Luis Suarez and Messi ensured that Ernesto Valverde's side would move five points clear at the top of La Liga.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
6.46pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Estadio de la Ceramica as Villarreal welcome Barcelona. The home side have only won one of their last five in the league, and will welcome a Barcelona team that are unbeaten in their opening 14 fixtures of the 2017-18 campaign. Stay tuned for what should be a cracking affair from this wonderful stadium.
6.49pmBarcelona recorded a 4-1 victory when they welcomed Villarreal to Camp Nou in May, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at the Estadio de la Ceramica last season. Barcelona have not actually won away to Villarreal in the league since March 2015, which is an indication of their task tonight. It should be a great game as the leaders look to return to winning ways against the Yellow Submarine.
6.52pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Both sides were in European action during the week – Barcelona in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon, and Villarreal hosting Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League. Any changes? Let's see...
6.55pmTEAMS!
VILLARREAL: Asenjo; Mario, Alvaro, Ruiz, Costa; Soriano, Rodrigo, Semedo, Trigueros; Raba, Bakambu
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Paulinho; Messi, Suarez, Denis
6.58pm
16 - Villarreal are winless in their last 16 games against Barcelona in La Liga (D5 L11) - their longest winless run against a single opponent in the top-flight. Defiance. pic.twitter.com/P2dnpc96Na
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 10, 2017
7.02pmVillarreal's team shows five changes from the one that started the 3-1 defeat at Leganes last weekend. Sergio Asenjo makes his long-awaited La Liga return between the sticks, while Jaume Costa and Victor Ruiz come back into the defence. Roberto Soriano and Ruben Semedo are given spots in midfield, and it will be Dani Raba supporting Cedric Bakambu in the final third for the hosts.
7.05pmBarcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has made six changes to the team that started against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League during the week. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Paulinho all come back in, as does Lionel Messi, who is joined by Luis Suarez and Denis Suarez in the final third of the field. Big chance for Denis Suarez against his former club.
7.08pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff. I shall speak about the home side a little bit later, but let's start with Barcelona. As mentioned, the Catalan outfit were held to a 2-2 draw by Celta Vigo at Camp Nou last weekend, but they returned to winning ways on Tuesday night with a 2-0 success over Sporting in the Champions League.
7.12pm
📢 Messiiiiiiiiiii 🙌
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 10, 2017
🚌 Estadio de la Cerámica
⚽️ #VillarrealBarça
🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/GMEy83DAbw
7.15pmA total of 36 points from 14 matches has left Barcelona top of La Liga. They have recorded 11 wins and three draws - scoring 36 times and conceding just seven. It would be fair to say that they have not played their best football this season, but Ernesto Valverde has made this Barcelona team extremely difficult to beat. Will their unbeaten run stretch to 15 matches tonight?
7.18pmThey will enter this match two points clear of second-placed Valencia with a game in hand, while the champions Real Madrid are five off the lead having played one game more. Valverde's team are in a strong position at the summit, but a defeat here would certainly give the chasing pack hope.
7.22pmIt is a massive few weeks for Barcelona as they host Villarreal tonight and welcome Deportivo La Coruna next weekend before the small matter of El Clasico at the Bernabeu on December 23. La Liga than breaks for the festive period, and the league table could have a very different look at the end of 2017.
7.25pm
🔵🔴 Barça XI
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 10, 2017
⚽️ #VillarrealBarça pic.twitter.com/MLMoAnPjUb
7.28pmBarcelona have been excellent on their travels this season, however, winning five of their seven matches - scoring 14 times in the process and conceding just three. They have actually not lost away in the league since the start of April, but were held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia at the end of last month.
7.32pmAs for Villarreal, the Yellow Submarine will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League. They will be present in the last-32 stage of that competition after comfortably advancing through the group, but have only won one of their last five in La Liga.
7.35pmThey recorded three straight league wins between October 1 and October 22, but have lost their last two against Sevilla and Leganes. Javier Calleja's side still sit sixth in the table on 21 points, however, and will have fifth-placed Sevilla in their sights over the next few weeks.
7.38pm
#VillarrealBarça | Este es nuestro '11'📝⚽️ para jugar ante el @FCBarcelona_es en el #EstadioDeLaCerámica (20.45h). ¡A por el líderrr! pic.twitter.com/bA5HzFUUlW
— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) December 10, 2017
7.42pmLike Barcelona, Villarreal also have a tough end to 2017 as they travel to Celta Vigo and host Valencia in their next two. They finished fifth in La Liga last season, and despite some problems over the last couple of weeks, will expect to finish in or around that position once again this season.
0 minKICKOFF! Barcelona kick things off here...
2 minBarcelona will have plenty of the ball tonight, but you get the feeling that Villarreal could hurt the visitors, especially if they manage to isolate Vermaelen. It should be a really good game of football.
4 minNot an awful lot to report in terms of attacking football in the early moments, with both teams just looking to settle into the contest. The first goal could be decisive tonight, and you fancy that Villarreal have to get it if they are to have a realistic chance of picking up a positive result here.
5 minPOST! Barcelona come close to making the breakthrough as Pique rises highest to meet a corner from the left, and his header hits the post. Early let-off for Villarreal here.
7 minBit of possession for Villarreal in the last couple of minutes, and Bakambu showed a nice touch in the final third before looking to release Rodri, but Pique made the clearance. There is no question that the home side have the players capable of causing Barcelona some problems tonight.
9 minVillarreal continue to enjoy good possession of the football, and Barcelona are having to drop into a defensive shape as they look to ride out this period. We have not seen too much from the likes of Luis Suarez and Messi inside the first nine minutes, but it is still very early on in this match.
11 minRakitic looks to pick out a teammate after finding space in a wide area, but Asenjo is on hand to collect. Soriano then breaks through for the home side, only to be flagged offside by the linesman.
13 minGood spell of football from Villarreal here as they continue to pass and move in the final third of the field. Raba is playing quite close to Bakambu, with Soriano also prepared to come central. Still goalless with 13 minutes on the clock, but it has been a decent game of football thus far.
15 minNot too much happening in terms of attacking football from Barcelona, but they have managed to regain some possession. Oh, and Luis Suarez is ruled offside for the 100th time this season.
16 minSAVE! Smart save from Barcelona's goalkeeper to keep out a close-range effort from Soriano. Villarreal had managed to work the ball into a wide position with some good football.
19 minBarcelona threaten in a wide position as Luis Suarez finds some space before delivering towards Messi, but Semedo does well to make the clearance. The resulting corner is delivered into the Villarreal box, and Semedo is on hand to clear once again. Still goalless with 19 minutes played.
21 minBarcelona have a free kick in a dangerous area as Ruiz brings Messi to the deck...
22 minSAVE! Asenjo flies across his goal to keep out Messi's effort.
24 minVillarreal have sunk very deep in the last few minutes as Barcelona pass and probe in the final third. Alba delivers low towards Luis Suarez, but Ruiz manages to make the clearance. Messi is starting to see more and more of the ball for Barcelona, which will equal very bad news for the home side.
26 minSemedo is having a strong game for Villarreal in the middle of the park, with the number four making a number of important clearances. He has also been neat and tidy in possession of the ball.
28 minVillarreal threaten once again as Costa races down the left before delivering into the Barcelona box, but Pique does well to make the clearance. The visitors then look to break, but it does not go anywhere. Villarreal are pretty comfortable with 28 minutes on the clock here.
30 minThe home supporters are engaged in the match at the moment, which is very good news for Villarreal. The referee has also allowed a few late challenges to go unpunished, which is creating a really good atmosphere. Still goalless as we head for the final third of the first 45 minutes.
32 minPossession for Barcelona, but not too much else as Denis Suarez fires into Row Z.
32 minPossession for Barcelona, but not too much else as Denis Suarez fires into Row Z.
34 minLittle over 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and it has been a largely uneventful first period. Villarreal will be very pleased as long as the score remains goalless.
36 minVillarreal are certainly not shy in committing players forward, but they just need to be careful that they are not caught out down the other end of the field. Denis Suarez picks up the ball in a wide area following a Barcelona break, but the final pass again lacks quality. Soriano then fires wide down the other end as Villarreal launch a break of their own. Still 0-0 here.
38 minCLOSE! Messi just misses the Villarreal post with a low strike!
41 minA little bit more urgency from the away side in the last few minutes, but Villarreal are holding firm at the back as Asenjo collects a cross from Alba. Not too long left in the first half of action here.
43 minMore smart goalkeeping from Ter Stegen as the German punches clear a cross from Costa with Villarreal threatening in a wide area once again. Ter Stegen has again been very good here.
45 minBOOKING! Busquets (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Raba.
45+1 minRodrigo sees his effort deflected wide of the Barcelona post as Villarreal end the first period on the front foot. The Yellow Submarine will be pleased with their first-half performance here.
45+1 minHALF-TIME: Villarreal 0-0 Barcelona
8.32pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Villarreal holding Barcelona to a goalless draw. Barcelona have come the closest - Pique hitting the crossbar with a header early on - but Villarreal have defended well. Nothing to separate the two teams at the interval.
8.37pmSTATISTICS! Barcelona dominated the first-half possession with 71%, while they had five attempts, although just one of those was on target. Villarreal, meanwhile, hit the target with three of their six attempts. Just the one yellow card to report - Busquets for a trip in the 45th minute of action.
8.42pmBENCH WATCH! Barcelona's bench is not exactly filled with attacking quality, but Vidal and Alcacer are two players that might well be introduced if the score stays goalless here. As for Villarreal, head coach Calleja has options in the shape of Samu Castielljo, Adrian Marin and Chuca.
46 minRESTART! Villarreal resume the action here...
47 min... can Barcelona grind out a win tonight? Villarreal have been pretty comfortable thus far. But all can change in the second 45 minutes. Barcelona need Messi to pull something special out the bag here.
48 minVILLARREAL SUB! Samu replaces Semedo for the home side.
50 minBit of possession early in the second period, but Villarreal are still really comfortable as they hold their defensive shape. You do get the feeling that the first goal will be massive in this one.
52 minReal Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia will all be hoping that Barcelona drop points tonight, but it would be just like Valverde's team to grind out a win here. You sense that one goal might be enough to collect all the points, but Villarreal are just as likely to get it.
54 minBarcelona are really missing Iniesta, especially down that left. So often the midfielder comes up with incisive passes in dangerous positions, and the visitors have lacked that tonight. To be honest, there is not too much in terms of serious quality on the Barcelona bench here.
56 minRaba squirms a low cross into the Barcelona box, but Ter Stegen is on hand to collect. Still not too much to report in terms of clear chances as the second period continues to gather pace here.
58 minBARCELONA SUB! Alcacer replaces Denis Suarez.
59 minSAVE! Asenjo is on hand to keep out Alcacer's close-range effort!
60 minCLOSE! Messi just misses the post for Barcelona after meeting a low cross from Alba. It was a wonderful effort from Messi, and it just squeezed past the post. Lovely football.
60 minRED CARD! RABA!
61 minOh my word! Raba is given a straight red for a terrible challenge on Busquets!
61 minBOOKING! Bakambu (Villarreal) is booked for arguing the call. It was a late challenge from Raba, and the referee has got that right for me. Poor moment for the youngster.
63 minCan Barcelona break down this 10-man Villarreal team in the final 30 minutes? Supporters of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia will be watching through their fingertips!
64 minVILLARREAL SUB! Soriano is replaced by Rukavina for the home side.
66 minIt is all Barcelona at the moment as they continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. It is going to be a long 25 minutes for Villarreal as they start to sink deeper and deeper here.
68 minBARCELONA SUB! Paulinho is replaced by Vidal.
70 minCHANCE! Another chance for Barcelona as Alba combines with Messi in the final third, but the Argentine misses the near post with his low effort! Another opportunity for the visitors!
72 minGOAL! Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona (Luis Suarez)
73 minBig moment! Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 72nd minute as Luis Suarez, who has been poor tonight, collects a pass from Alcacer before rounding Asenjo and finishing into the net!
75 minSAVE! Ter Stegen is across to keep out a strike from Trigueros!
77 minStill more than 10 minutes remaining here, and fans of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Valencia will be hoping that Villarreal can score in the latter stages. Barcelona are heading for their 12th league win of the season as things stand, and it would be a massive three points.
80 minCHANCE! Big chance for Barcelona as Messi chips a fantastic pass into Luis Suarez, but the striker misses the post! That would have been game, set and match here.
83 minGOAL! Villarreal 0-2 Barcelona (Messi)
84 minBarcelona have their second of the match, and surely secure all the points in the process, as Messi converts from close range after collecting a clever pass from Busquets. Ruiz had given the ball away in a dangerous area, and the visitors have surely secured a vital three points here.
86 minBARCELONA SUB! Busquets is replaced by Andre Gomes.
86 minBOOKING! Alvaro (Villarreal) is booked for a kick out at Vidal.
88 minBarcelona are looking for more goals here as they continue to pass and probe in the final third.
89 minMario brings Messi to the ground with a late challenge just outside the Barcelona box...
90 min... Asenjo makes a comfortable save to keep out Luis Suarez's effort.
90+1 minSAVE! Asenjo does well to keep out a strike from Vidal.
90+2 minWe are into the second of three additional minutes here.
90+3 minFULL-TIME: Villarreal 0-2 Barcelona
9.35pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona recording a 2-0 win at Villarreal as the Catalan giants move five points clear of second-placed Valencia in the table. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
