Neymar made it five goals in two games as Barcelona went three points clear at the top of La Liga with a hard-earned win over Villarreal at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona 2

Neymar 30′ (pen), 68′

Villarreal 1

Musacchio 48′

FT 90 +5
HT 1-0

Neymar scores from the penalty spot against to put Barcelona ahead against Villarreal

Neymar made it five goals in two games as Barcelona went three points clear at the top of La Liga with a hard-earned win over Villarreal at the Nou Camp.

The 21-year-old Brazil forward followed up his Champions League hat-trick against Celtic by scoring a penalty after Mario had handled.
Villarreal stunned the Nou Camp by levelling, Mateo Musacchio heading home from a corner.

Yellow Submarine rising again

Villarreal finished in La Liga's top seven every season between 2004 and 2011 - largely under the management of current Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini.
With the likes of Diego Forlan and Juan Roman Riquelme, they reached the 2006 Champions League semi-finals, in between last-four appearances in the 2004 and 2011 Europa League.
Following financial trouble, they were relegated from the Spanish top flight in 2011-12 before winning instant promotion last term.

But Neymar rounded off a week to remember with a close-range finish.

Barcelona move clear of nearest rivals Atletico Madrid, who entertain Valencia on Sunday, after a 23rd successive home league win, a run stretching back to October 2012.
But Gerardo Martino's side were made to work hard by a Villarreal side who will be disappointed they did not come away with a point.
Alex Song had already hit the woodwork when Mario was harshly adjudged to have handled Jordi Alba's 30th minute cross, Neymar sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.
Sergio Asenjo had little to do until then but the Villarreal keeper produced a fine stop to frustrate Alexis Sanchez five minutes before the interval.
Villarreal, who are fifth in the table after winning promotion last season, levelled three minutes into the second half when Musacchio took advantage of slack marking to head home from a corner. Barcelona were rattled.
Former Tottenham forward Giovani dos Santos went close to giving the visitors the lead before Neymar restored Barca's lead with a simple tap-in after a delightful move involving Alexis and Cesc Fabregas.
The hosts, who are now five points clear of third-placed Real Madrid, finished strongly, with Andres Iniesta denied by another fine save from Asenjo.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Barcelona

13 Pinto Colorado
02 Montoya
18 Alba
16 Busquets
15 Bartra
03 Piqué
17 Song (Xavi - 62' )
08 Iniesta
04 Fábregas (Sergi - 87' )
09 Sánchez (Pedro - 84' )
11 Neymar Booked

Substitutes

05 Puyol
06 Xavi
07 Pedro
14 Mascherano
20 Tello
24 Sergi
25 Olazábal Paredes

Villarreal

01 Asenjo
02 Perez Martinez
18 Costa Jordá
04 Pina
05 Musacchio
16 Dorado Ramírez
17 Aquino (Pereira - 74' )
28 Ramos Gómez (Uche - 64' )
09 dos Santos
14 Trigueros Muñoz Booked
11 Pérez (Jokic - 69' )

Substitutes

03 Jokic
07 Perbet
08 Uche
20 de Abreu
24 Pereira
25 Sánchez Martínez
27 Gómez Bardonado

Ref: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva

Att: 66,130

Match Stats

Shots

13 3

On target

7 1

Corners

7 4

Fouls

7 12

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Barcelona 2, Villarreal 1.

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Barcelona 2, Villarreal 1.

90:00 +3:10 Attempt blocked. Neymar (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
90:00 +2:07 Neymar (Barcelona) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
90:00 +1:33 Attempt missed. Pedro (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Neymar with a through ball.
88:24 Marc Bartra (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88:24 Foul by Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal).
87:57 Foul by Pedro (Barcelona).
87:57 Jaume Costa (Villarreal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87:09 Corner, Villarreal. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.
86:37 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Barcelona. Sergi Roberto replaces Francesc Fábregas.

86:05 Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86:05 Foul by Jonathan Pereira (Villarreal).
85:33 Offside, Barcelona. Neymar tries a through ball, but Jordi Alba is caught offside.
84:09 Booking

Booking Neymar (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.

83:47 Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Mario.
83:08 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Barcelona. Pedro replaces Alexis Sánchez.

81:26 Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Sergio Asenjo.
81:25 Attempt saved. Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
77:59 Corner, Villarreal. Conceded by Martín Montoya.

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