Barcelona have finally collected their first away win of the 2021/22 season and in doing so, have extended their unbeaten run against the Yellow Submarine to an incredible 28 games.
Second-half goals from De Jong, Memphis and Coutinho (p) sealed the first road victory of the Liga season for Barcelona.
After a goalless first half in which neither side was able to make anything of their many chances, Dutchmen Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong scored either side of Samuel Chukwueze’s equaliser and a late Philippe Coutinho penalty made sure of three points that have done wonders for the team’s league position.
Those points have put Barça right back into contention for the Champions League places… but after such a promising start to his new role as Barça manager, Xavi Hernández will surely be aiming even higher.
The first 10 minutes were wild at the Madrigal, with Dani Parejo almost breaking Sergio Busquets’ ankle in the first minute and not even getting a yellow card, Ez Abde having a header brilliantly saved by Gerónimo Rulli onto the crossbar, Gerard Piqué saving a shot by Arnaut Danjuma with his hand and not being called for a penalty, and both Memphis Depay and Gavi missing clear chances.
Barça changed the game in the second half with an early goal: after a cross from Jordi Alba on the left, Memphis had his shot saved by Rulli but De Jong scored on the rebound into an open net and Barça took the lead just five minutes into the second half.
Villarreal stepped up their pressure after going behind and Barça completely lost their shape. The Blaugrana struggled to keep possession and their defence looked more and more disorganised, and they finally paid for it when Manu Trigueros played a ball over the top, Danjuma got to it before Piqué and Samuel Chukwueze then anticipated Óscar Mingueza and found the back of the net for the equaliser.
The home team continued to dominate in the final 15 minutes and had several really good opportunities to find the winner, but somehow, someway, the winner was scored by the visitors: after a long ball by Ter Stegen was not properly cleared by Pervis Estupiñán, Memphis Depay got to the ball before the Villarreal defence, rounded the keeper and nutmegged the defender at the line to give Barça the lead.
There was still time left for Villarreal to find an equalizer, but Barça made sure of all three points when Philippe Coutinho won a penalty and scored from the spot to make it 3-1. The final whistle came, and Barça have won two games in a row for the first time in the league this season.
