In Barcelona vs Villarreal, Villarreal Beat Barcelona FC 5-3 in a La Liga match. Barcelona hosted Villarreal in Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys stadium. Visitors survive a comeback from Barcelona to pull a thrilling win 5-3 in the final minutes of the game. After conceding two goals Barcelona made a comeback scoring three goals inside 11 minutes in the second half. Barcelona’s defensive unit let the team down in the 84th minute Villarreal scored their third goal. In stoppage time Barcelona conceded two more goals. Barcelona with that loss stands third in the La Liga table with 44th position. Villarreal stands in the 14th position in the table with 23 points.
Barcelona Starting Eleven
Xavi picked a starting eleven in which Iñaki Pena is the first-choice Goalkeeper. Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen are playing the center-back position. Héctor Fort plays as the left-side back and Jules Koundé plays in right right-side back position. Oriol Romeu is in the Defensive midfielder role. İlkay Gündoğan and Frenkie de Jong playing in mid-field. Lamine Yamal plays as Right Wing Forward and João Félix plays as Left-wing forward. Robert Lewandowski playing in the center-forward position. Xavi started with the traditional 4-3-3 Formation.
Villarreal starting eleven
Marcelino García Toral Pick a Starting eleven of Filip Jörgensen is in a goal. Jorge Cuenca and Eric Bailly play in the center-back position. Kiko Femenía is on the right and Alberto Moreno is in the left side-back position. Francis Coquelin and Santi Comesaña are in the Center- midfield role. Ilias Akhomach is in the Right-side midfield position and Álex Baena is in the left side midfield position. Alexander Sørloth and Gerard Moreno are playing in the Center Forward position. Marcelino García Toral Selected a 4-4-2 Formation in this match.
Barcelona vs Villarreal
First Half
Barcelona was the clear favorite to win this match visitors did not have a single victory in the last three matches. Barcelona also faces defeat in Copa Del Rey. Villarreal had a first chance in the game Kiko Femenía scooped the ball for Alex Baena who put the ball in the net, but he was in offside position.
In the 8th minute, Ilkay Gündogan took a short free Kick to play a pass to Lamine Yamal who took a curling shot Filip Jörgensen made a save. In the 15th minute, Catalans took a quick free-kick and Joao Felix received the ball from the edge of the plenty box he took a shot, but the ball deflected off Francis Coquelin and Filip Jörgensen made a fingertip save to put the ball over the bar.
In the 41st minute, Alex Baena started a counter-attack and combined with Alexander Sørloth to win a throw-in deep Catalan territory. Alexander Sørloth passes a ball to Gerard Moreno who drills the ball in the bottom left corner. Yellow Submarine takes the lead. The first half ends with visitors having a 1-0 lead over the host.
Second Half
Xavi made three changes at half-time he brought Pau Cubarsi, Joao Cancelo, and Pedri in place of Oriol Romeu, Andreas Christensen, and Andreas Christensen. In the 54th minute, Joao Cancelo made a mistake he did not deal well with the over-top ball and miskick it and the ball went in the way of Ilias Akhomach he burst clear and round the rushing Iñaki Pena and slotted the ball into the empty net.
Yellow Submarine took a two-goal lead. In the 60th minute, Ferran Torres played a low pass to Robert Lewandowski who combined with Ilkay Gündogan who hit a low first-time finish in the bottom-left corner. In the 68th minute, Lamine Yamal skips and plays a pass to Ilkay Gündogan but Gündogan does not control it well but falls kindly to Pedri who takes a low shot, and the ball goes through the crowd and into the bottom right corner.
In the 71st minute, Ilkay Gündogan swung the ball from a free kick from the left but the ball was blocked by Aissa Mandi, the ball hit the chest of Eric Bailly and beat Filip Jörgensen Barcelona took the lead. In the 84th minute, Alexander Sørloth played a through pass to Gonçalo Guedes who was in the right flanks, Gonçalo Guedes took a hammers shot ball and went in into the bottom corner. Yellow Submarine was back in the game scoreline was 3-3.
In the 99th minute, Stoppage time Étienne Capoue drives the ball into the box but his initial cross is blocked after that he finds Alexander Sørloth. Alexander Sørloth takes a shot but Joao Cancelo blocks Alexander Sørloth reacts quickly and fires another shot ball went into the net. Villarreal takes the lead again. In the last minutes of stoppage time, Gonçalo Guedes put a cross into the box José Luis Morales put the ball in the net. Barcelona’s defense unit looks clueless Visitors won the match with a 5-3 scoreline.
Xavi Leaving Barcelona in the summer
Here’s what Xavi said as he announced that was leaving Barça at the end of the season: pic.twitter.com/Pj4LWLYtTo
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 27, 2024
Barcelona Coach Xavi Hernandez announces his decision to step down from his position at the end of the current season. Speaking to reporters, Xavi revealed, “On June 30, I will leave the club. It’s a decision I have taken with the president, with the staff.