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Barcelona have finally won away from home. At the sixth time of asking they got their first three points on the road with a late Memphis Depay goal and a Philippe Coutinho injury-time penalty giving them a 3-1 victory.
Xavi’s team had been pegged back by a Samuel Chukwueze goal cancelling out Frenkie de Jong’s opener and their legs looked to have gone with Villarreal refreshed by their substitutes and looking like scoring with every attack.
But Pervis Estupinan’s poor header back to his keeper allowed Memphis to sneak through and score. Substitute Coutinho was then brought down by Juan Foyth and he got up to take the spot-kick and seal the points.
Barcelona have finally won away from home this season after a 3-1 win at rivals Villarreal
Dutch winger Memphis Depay slotted home to put Barca ahead in the game late on
Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho netted a penalty in stoppage time to seal the win
The Xavi effect keeps on working – this was the first time all season Barcleona had managed back to back wins and they had done it with an indomitable spirit that kept them going when they looked physically spent.
It was fast and furious right from the first kick with five talking points inside the first 10 minutes. Barcelona hit the post twice with 19-year-old winger Abde, making his first start, hitting the frame of the goal with a header from a corner that Gero Rulli tipped onto the bar. Then 17-year-old Gavi cut in from the left and hit the far post.
Villarreal had their first chance and from it Gerard Pique risked giving away a penalty. He blocked Danjuma’s shot with his hand as he went to ground but the referee decided his hand had been in a natural position as he stopped the shot.
It was the second difficult decision for
