Villarreal 2-2 Barcelona: Barca throw away lead but go 9 points clear - 5 things we learned

Not even some questionable refereeing could blight an entertaining game at el Madrigal

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Some abysmal refereeing denied Villarreal a win over league-leading Barcelona, but the hosts came back from 2-0 down to take a well-earned point.
In an even game, Barca raced into a lead through two controversial goals in the first half.
Ivan Rakitic drilled home the rebound after Sergio Asenjo appeared to have been fouled at a set piece and then a terrible penalty decision, converted by Neymar, appeared to have handed the Catalans victory.
But Villarreal, even with manager Marcelino sent to the stands, came back brilliantly thanks to Cedric Bakambu's goal and an own goal from substitute Jeremy Mathieu.
The hosts could even won it at the end, but were left with a point that tightens their grip on fourth place while Barca go nine points clear of Atletico at the top.


But what did we learn? Ed Malyon was there...

1. Pre-match was a tale of two Suarez

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Luis yourself: Suarez was keen to avoid a booking

The teams came with a slight surprise, although they probably shouldn't have.
Luis Enrique is a stubborn, terse individual and he has insisted many times that he won't rest the MSN as Barcelona look to complete back-to-back trebles.
But although Luis Suarez came into this game one booking short of missing el clásico on April 2nd, he started alongside Leo Messi and Neymar.

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Denis the menace: Suarez shined again

In a yellow shirt, it was all about Denis Suarez.
The Villarreal man was playing against his former and future employers, with Barca set to exercise their pitiful €3million buyback clause this summer.
Suarez's time out (effectively) on loan has made him into a terrific player while Munir and Sandro got a chance to try and prove themselves under Luis Enrique.
That they've failed to do so means they'll probably go the same way as Denis, flogged with a buyback clause as insurance just in case they develop as their football upbringing suggests they might.
In the coming years you suspect Manchester City will regret letting a young Denis Suarez move to the Nou Camp.

2. Brilliant Villarreal deserve more

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Comeback: Villarreal players celebrate their second goal

The hosts came flying out of the blocks and inside six minutes had two brilliant chances.
Denis Suarez (who else?) flashed a shot across Claudio Bravo's goal before Cedric Bakambu - a player who has exceeded all expectations since signing last summer - brilliantly lifted the ball over Gerard Pique before forcing a great save from Bravo.

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Come Bak: Cedric Bakambu celebrates with Roberto Soldado

It set the tone, and Villarreal were Barcelona's equals throughout a tough game where officiating probably cost them the win (more on that later).
Had you offered the hosts a draw before the game then they probably would have taken it, yet the feeling at the final whistle was that they had deserved more and it was Barca who were hanging on at the end.

3. Arda Turan isn't an interior

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Tu good: Barcelona played well despite a midfield imbalance

Arda Turan is a fine footballer, and what's more, he once took off his boot mid-game and threw it at a linesman which remains one of the best moments of the 21st century.
But what he isn't is a box-to-box midfielder, capable of playing the role asked of him today.
Turan was purchased because he's versatile enough to be used in midfielder or as part of a front three.

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Arda than you think: Turan struggled in a new role, but celebrates with Rakitic

Starting alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic, he was asked to play a more up-and-down role whereas previously he has had two more conservative players behind him.
While the Turkish midfielder has the necessary energy - he played for Diego Simeone's Atletico, after all - his inability to tackle handed Villarreal a number of free kicks in dangerous positions.
Luis Enrique realised this, taking him off inside an hour, and is unlikely to play him in such an attacking midfield trio for a while.

4. Another good job from an absent Marcelino

The latest: Marcelino has brought through more talent, including Arsenal's Gabriel Paulista

Villarreal's brilliant and consistent overachievement isn't an accident and this is a club that for nearly ten years now has performed above the level expected for what was, historically at least, a small club from a small town.
The Castellón outfit have grown in size and stature and no longer is it a surprise to see them toughing it out with Europe's elite and giving a platform for previously unknown players to shine... or managers for that case.
The Madrigal hierarchy has picked a host of brilliant managers to lead this club over the years, and Marcelino is the latest in a lineage of head coaches who have maintained Villarreal at such a level of overachievement that it no longer feels such.

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Never a penalty: Sergio Asenjo grabs Neymar

Today they match Barcelona, even with their manager banished to a VIP box for most of the game and two questionable (one bloody awful) refereeing decisions against them.
Add in Gerard Pique's possible red card that wasn't given and it wouldn't be extreme to say they were robbed today.

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Down and out: Lionel Messi and Barca struggled against a brilliant Villarreal

That Marcelino's team is so well-drilled that they managed to comeback from 2-0 down against Barca even with him way up high behind the glass speaks volumes for his training-ground work during the week and the spirit he's instilled in a talented, cheaply-assembled squad.

5. Ivan Rakitic could be one of the most underrated stars in Europe

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Ivan Rakitic and Antonio Rukavina in action

Sergio Busquets is often considered the water-carrier of this Barcelona team but even he doesn't get through as much work as Ivan Rakitic.
Like his similarly underrated compatriot in Madrid, Luka Modric, Rakitic has become a crucial player for his team without any fanfare.
Today he was at the centre of everything good Barcelona did, scoring the first goal and having a hand in the build-up to the (wrongly-awarded) penalty.

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Arda than you think: Turan struggled in a new role, but celebrates with Rakitic

Defensively he made up for what turned out to be four passengers, the MSN and Turan, with his work rate and smart positioning to help snuff out attacks.
His increasing influence in this side will be repaid before long by an increase in his contract, but the greatest reward is the fact that, quietly, he's become one of the world's best midfielders and a key cog in Barca's historically brilliant machine.