"Sunday's fixture at Villarreal was always going to guarantee goals. Here are two teams that enjoy playing free-flowing, attacking football, and, come what may, neither Marcelino nor Hansi Flick is going to be dissuaded from playing any other way. The Blaugranes had scored in 37 matches before this one, their best run since 2013, whilst the Yellow Submarine had already earned a best-ever points total at this stage of the season."
"It's not clear why, but Barca's passing was completely off in the first half. The ball was given away on five separate occasions before 15 minutes had been played, and two of those giveaways almost resulted in Ayoze Perez giving Villarreal the lead. That they didn't shouldn't be overlooked, and nor should the basic errors such as Alejandro Balde's unbelievably poor back pass."
"Is the Brazilian Barcelona's most important player? Quite possibly. He's certainly one of the most decisive. What sets Raphinha apart is his work rate and application, as well as the goals he scores in important matches. His beautiful curling effort in the first half deserved a goal too, He always steps up in every aspect of play, and though not capta"
Villarreal and Barcelona both favour free-flowing, attacking football, producing high-scoring matches and an expectation of goals. Barcelona had scored in 37 consecutive matches, their best run since 2013, while Villarreal had achieved a best-ever points total by this stage. Recent meetings produced multiple high-scoring away wins, and Barcelona had not lost at Villarreal in La Liga since October 2007. A Villarreal win would reduce the gap to five points; a loss would increase the deficit to 11. Barcelona's first-half passing was error-prone with five early giveaways and a poor back pass from Alejandro Balde. Raphinha stood out for work rate and decisive goals.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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