Villarreal 3-4 Barcelona: Robert Lewandowski nets winner in seven-goal thriller

Barcelona battled back to beat Villarreal 4-3 at the Estadio de la Ceramica, goals from Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski giving them a hard-fought win.

The hosts made the better start, but found themselves 2-0 down within 15 minutes. Alexander Sorloth had the ball in the back of the net early on after a killer through-ball from Juan Foyth, but Etienne Capoue was adjudged to have been offside and interfering with play.

Sorloth then forced a fine save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen, while Alex Baena also went close. Just as it looked like Barca’s defence might crumble they won a corner and, after the initial delivery was cleared as far as Lamine Yamal, the teenager swung a cross to the far post where Gavi was waiting to head home.

The visitors went 2-0 up three minutes later after a slick passing move ended with Lewandowski drifting wide on the edge of the area before backheeling to De Jong, who burst into the box and thrashed a low shot past Filip Jorgensen. Lewandowski almost made it three soon afterwards, but Matteo Gabbia made a vital block.

Villarreal pulled one back around the 25-minute mark, Foyth rising highest at a corner and heading past a helpless Ter Stegen. They equalised just before half-time, Baena setting off a counter-attack which ended with Alfonso Pedraza teeing up Sorloth to bundle in.

The home side looked to have completed the turnaround five minutes into the second half, Pedraza beating Sergi Roberto out wide, driving infield and then releasing Baena to his left. His team-mate did the rest, curling a shot beyond Ter Stegen and into the far corner.

Just as they did in the first half, however, Barca hit back with two goals in quick succession. Torres, on as a substitute, dragged them level with an improvised finish, before Lewandowski turned in after Yamal had hit the post and sent the ball ricocheting into his path.

Having failed to find the net in Barca’s first two games against Getafe and Cadiz, Lewandowski came into this match in uncharacteristically sluggish form. He cut a frustrated figure in the first half and Villarreal seemed intent on riling him up further, an off-the-ball tussle between him and Foyth ending with both of them going into the book.

It may not have been a spectacular finish, but the veteran centre-forward will be relieved to have got on the scoresheet and secured the win for his side. Now he’s off the mark, the goals should flow more easily.

Having become the youngest player to make a La Liga start in the 21st century at 16 years and 38 days last weekend, Yamal fully justified Xavi’s faith in him with this performance.

Not only did he get his first assist at senior level, he was hugely unlucky not to get a goal after hitting the post twice in the second half. He inadvertently set up Lewandowski for the winner second time round so, regardless, he made all the difference.

Villarreal: Jorgensen 6, Foyth 6, Gabbia 6, Cuenca 5, Pedraza 6, Terrats 5, Capoue 6, Parejo 5, Baena 7, Moreno 6, Sorloth 6

Subs: Suarez 4, Comesana 4, Akhomach 4, Morales 4, Brereton Diaz N/A

Barcelona: Ter Stegen 6, Roberto 4, Kounde 5, Christensen 4, Alonso 6, Gundogan 5, Romeu 5, De Jong 7, Yamal 8, Lewandowski 6, Gavi 7

Subs: Garcia 5, Torres 7, Fati 5, Lopez N/A

4’ NO GOAL! Barca get away with one after Foyth plays a clever ball through the lines to Sorloth, who slots low beneath Ter Stegen and into the back of the net. The flag goes up for offside, however, and while it appears that Sorloth was on, Capoue was off and seemingly adjudged to be interfering with play.

12’ GOAL! Against the run of play, Barca are ahead. The visitors come forwards and win a corner, which is cleared as far as Yamal. He whips a cross in to the back post, where Gavi bundles home.

15’ GOAL! And, just like that, Barca are 2-0 up. De Jong and Ilkay Gundogan combine beautifully in midfield before the latter plays the ball forward to Lewandowski. He drifts wide before backheeling into the space he’s created, allowing De Jong to burst into the box and fire into the bottom left-hand corner.

26’ GOAL! Villarreal pull one back after Baena’s pinpoint corner delivery is met by Foyth, who shakes off Roberto to head into the far corner.

40’ GOAL! And what a goal it is, too. Baena dinks a ball over the top to Sorloth, who cuts inside and finds Gerard Moreno on the edge of the box. He plays through Pedraza on the overlap, before his low cross to the far post is turned in by Sorloth. Villarreal are level!

50’ GOAL! And there we have it. Pedraza beats Roberto out wide, thundering infield before releasing Baena to his left. His team-mate takes a touch before curling a beautiful shot into the far corner, leaving Ter Stegen rooted to the spot.

68’ GOAL! Torres drags Barca level barely five minutes after coming on. He combines with Gavi just inside the box and, while his initial shot is blocked, he scores on the follow-up.

71’ GOAL! Wow. Lewandowski puts Barca back in front after excellent play from Yamal, who hits the base of the post only to inadvertently tee up his team-mate on the rebound.

• According to Opta, Ferran Torres has the most goals as a substitute in La Liga under Xavi with five.
• Alexander Sorloth has been involved in more goals against Barcelona than any other player in La Liga since the start of last season, scoring twice and assisting once.