Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 10:55 PM• Jeroen van Poppel • Last update: 23:09

Barcelona booked a hard-fought away win against Villarreal on Saturday night. Xavi’s men were under enormous pressure in the final phase at a 1-1 score, but were helped to victory by Memphis Depay with a goal in the 88th minute. Philippe Coutinho scored another penalty in injury time: 1-3. Frenkie de Jong had already made his first of the season just after the break. Barcelona retains only connection with the top of LaLiga due to the stolen victory in seventh place, while Villarreal is disappointingly twelfth.

Abde Ezzalzouli made his basic debut as a right winger for Barcelona, ​​which took office in a sort of 3-4-3 system. Of course, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay were also lined up, while Arnaut Danjuma appeared as a left winger at the opponent. Both teams made it an interesting spectacle from the first minute, in which enough happened on both sides. Ezzalzouli was close after a few minutes with a header from a corner, which came through the fingertips of Geronimo Rulli.

Frenkie de Jong puts Barcelona ahead! ?? The VAR had yet to look into it but decided it wasn’t offside??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #VillarrealBarça #Frenkie pic.twitter.com/oUKA1cCyd0

— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) Nov 27, 2021

Shortly afterwards, Danjuma got the ball in the feet by Eric García. The Villarreal attacker seemed to be able to score, but ran into Gerard Pique’s block, who got away with the handball he made with it. Then the chances were for Barcelona. Depay was blocked in the penalty area, after which Gavi got the ball in front of the feet and hit the post. Depay got an even better chance after a sublime cross by De Jong, but the striker shot eye to eye with Rulli wide. Danjuma escaped the attention of García on the stroke of half-time and saw from a difficult angle how Marc-André ter Stegen saved his shot.

Two minutes after the break, Barcelona took the lead thanks to a tap from De Jong. The midfielder took advantage in the rebound, after Depay shot at Rulli after a low cross from Alba. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but after much deliberation the VAR still approved the goal. Villarreal then took matters into their own hands and looked for the equalizer. Fifteen minutes before the end, a huge opportunity for Manu Trigueros, who aimed wide after a low cross.

unbelievable??
Barça is no longer involved against Villarreal, but Memphis makes it 2-1 on the indication of Ter Stegen! ??

What a great goal from the Dutchman ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #VillarrealBarça #MotD pic.twitter.com/epsFWnaoJD

— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) Nov 27, 2021

Two minutes later, Danjuma managed to tap the ball to the penalty area with some front yard, where substitute Samuel Chukwueze put the tip of his shoe against it: 1-1. Trigueros got the chance for more and tapped the ball past Ter Stegen in the penalty area, but also played it over the back line. Moments later, the striker aimed with the outside right a few meters wide. Danjuma was also close after a dribble with a punt, which did not go on target. Against all odds, Barça took the win in the 88th minute. Depay was able to intercept a header from Pervis Estupinan and skilfully dribbled past Rulli, before tapping the ball in: 1-2. Substitute Philippe Coutinho was tapped by Juan Foyth in injury time and was allowed to push in the penalty himself: 1-3. A bicycle kick from Coutinho then went just over.