Griezmann shoots Barcelona closer to a possible double

Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 6:05 PM• Daniel Cabot Kerkdijk • Last update: 18:07

Barcelona took full advantage of Real Madrid’s half misstep in LaLiga on Sunday. The day after the reigning champion’s draw against Real Betis (0-0), the team of trainer Ronald Koeman was 1-2 too strong for Villarreal, which was on the field for more than 25 minutes with ten men. Antoine Griezmann was decisive in Eastern Spain with two hits. Because of the victory, Barcelona now has as many points as Real Madrid (71), but with a duel less in the legs. The deficit of the Catalans on Atlético Madrid is currently two points. The leader, who comes to the Camp Nou on May 8, has another game after tonight’s away game against Athletic Club.

Villarreal started with a lot of intensity in an interesting first half and was threatening several times, especially via Gerard Moreno, this season good for twenty league goals. Barcelona recovered as the minutes passed and had the prospect of 0-1 via Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong. The deployment of the Frenchman, after preparatory work by De Jong, could be blocked in time and a sublime save by Sergio Asenjo prevented the Dutchman from scoring from close range. It was Villarreal who struck first after 26 minutes of play. Samu Chukwueze received a deep pass from Pau Torres, accelerated the moment Jordi Alba stepped out and finished cool-blooded: 1-0.

The joy at Unai Emery’s team was short-lived and Griezmann played a leading role in that. Less than two minutes after the 1-0, 87 seconds to be precise, the forward on the right received an excellent pass from Óscar Mingueza and then subtly worked the ball over Asenjo in the left corner: 1-1. Less than ten minutes later, Barcelona received a second goal. Griezmann saw through a return pass from Juan Foyth on Asenjo and shot the ball low past the goalkeeper. It was also his 250th goal for Griezmann in 641 games for club and country as a professional footballer: 53 for Real Sociedad, 130 for Atlético Madrid, 32 for Barcelona and 35 goals for France. Sergiño Dest stayed behind in the dressing room at half time. The ex-Ajax player, who did not play in the midweek match against Getafe (5-2), was replaced by Sergi Roberto. In the first fifteen minutes of the second half, Villarreal and Barcelona kept each other well in balance. A shot by Messi went over the goal of Asenjo and Marc-André ter Stegen saved an attempt by Étienne Capoue. However, a rough charge by Manu Trigueros on Messi meant that Villarreal had to continue with ten men after 65 minutes. After a duel for the ball, the midfielder slid hard on the left shin of the Argentinian, who went to the ground moaning with pain.

In the remainder of the match, Koeman, who despite the surplus situation was not reassured about a good outcome, opted for the entrance of Ilaix Moriba and Ousmane Dembélé. Villarreal did indeed appear dangerously in front of the goal area of ​​Ter Stegen, who saved the attempts by Gerard Moreno and Pervis Estupiñán, for example. Barcelona could have ended the game via De Jong, but the bet over the goalkeeper did not find the net. To Koeman’s relief, the victory was won.

No. Team M. W. G. V. +/- Pnt
1 Atlético Madrid 32 22 7 3 39 73
2 Real Madrid 33 21 8 4 32 71
3 Barcelona 31 21 5 5 46 68
4 Seville 32 21 4 7 22 67
5 Real Sociedad 32 13 11 8 16 50
6 Real Betis 33 14 8 11 -3 50
7 Villarreal 32 12 13 7 13 49
8 Granada 31 12 6 13 -11 42
9 Osasuna 32 10 10 12 -7 40
10 Athletic Club 31 9 11 11 6 38
11 Celta de Vigo 32 9 11 12 -8 38
12 Levante 33 9 11 13 -8 38
13 Cadiz 33 9 10 14 -21 37
14 Valencia 33 8 12 13 -7 36
15 Getafe 33 8 10 15 -13 34
16 Alavés 33 7 10 16 -21 31
17 Elche 33 6 12 15 -20 30
18 Real Valladolid 32 5 14 13 -14 29
19 Huesca 33 5 12 16 -19 27
20 Eibar 32 4 11 17 -22 23