A rather dull first half made way for a highly entertaining second half that saw both Villarreal and Barcelona each hit the post and generate chance after chance. In the end though, the goalkeepers and the woodwork combined to keep the ball out of the net as the match ended in a scoreless draw.
Villarreal vs. Barcelona: Final score 0-1, Sandro scores match winner in debut
Despite close class for both the Yellow Submarine and Blaugrana, neither side could find the back of the net at El Madrigal.
Manuel Queimadelos Alonso
The first half at El Madrigal served as a good reminder that defeating Villarreal at home is always a tough challenge. Barca managed to pull it off last season, and despite the fact the Blaugrana looked the better side in the opening 45 minutes, the Yellow Submarine held firm defensively.
Barca's only real good chance on goal in the first half came in the 28th minute. Lionel Messi created some space for himself on the right side and fired a shot from a tough angle that left Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo hopelessly scrambling. If not for the post, Barca would've taken the lead, but instead the ball hit off the outside of the woodwork and bounced back into play.
In the 50th minute, Jérémy Mathieu came within inches of an embarrassing own-goal when he toe poked a cross off the near post as Claudio Bravo looked on in horror. There wasn't much momentum on the ball, so Bravo was able to pick-up the rebound, but it was a close call for Barca.
Neymar made his first appearance of the season, replacing Munir in the 59th minute. He made an immediate impact connecting with Messi to set-up Ivan Rakitić for a chance that rolled through several legs before being cleared for corner.
A brilliant long ball over the top hit Lionel Messi in-stride as he raced past the Villarreal defense with Neymar in support to his left. Messi’s ball to Neymar was behind the Brazilian, but a clearance attempt sent the ball right at Asenjo. Neymar tried to jump on the rebound, but his shot was blocked away.
Villarreal fired bak in the 72nd minute, coming within inches of taking the lead. Victor Ruiz's shot from outside the box went through some traffic, beat Bravo, but hammered off the post and back to the left where Gabriel Paulista was lurking. The defender sent the ball back across towards goal, but Bravo got his fingers on the ball to send it wide of the far post.
Continuing the theme of hitting the woodwork, Messi blasted a short range shot off the outside of the post in the 78th minute.
Finally in the 82nd minute Barcelona converted a chance to take the lead. Messi did the legwork breaking towards the end line before cutting back hard after his run was cutoff. The Argentine found Sandro making a run in the middle of the box and connected with the 19-year-old who tapped the ball past Asenjo to make it 1-0.
It’s the second straight week that a Barcelona player scored in his debut match with the senior side. Munir did it last and Sandro scored his first career goal just 12 minutes after entering the match.
Villarreal: Asenjo, Mario, Musacchio, V. Ruiz, J. Costa (Gabriel 59’), Pina, Bruno, Trigueros, Cani (Espinosa 70’), Cheryshev (Vietto 64’), Dos Santos
Goals: None
Barcelona: Bravo, Dani Alves, Piqué, Mathieu, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Rakitić, Rafinha (Xavi 75'), Munir (Neymar 59'), Messi, Pedro (Sandro 70')
Goals: Sandro (82’)
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