Suarez secures stunning point for Barcelona after eight-goal thriller at Villarreal

Luis Suarez struck an equaliser deep into stoppage time for Barcelona, salvaging a point for the Spanish Liga leaders after they found themselves 4-2 down away to Villarreal after 89 minutes.

In what was one of the most remarkable games of the season, the relegation-threatened hosts looked set for defeat after finding themselves 2-0 down after just 16 minutes, as early goals from Philippe Coutinho and Malcom looked to have set Barca on their way.

However, the dynamic of the match changed completely when Samuel Chukwueze got in behind the Barcelona defence to give his side a lifeline. Villarreal then scored a second just five minutes into the second half, with Karl Toko Ekambi squeezing home an extraordinary finish from the tightest of angles out wide.

Villarreal’s turnaround was completed when, just after the hour-mark, Vicente Iborra clipped a wonderful finish over Marc-Andre Der Stegen. And Villarreal appeared close to all three points as Carlos Bacca was sent clear by the exceptional Santi Cazorla, rounding Ter Stegen to roll into the empty net.

Barca weren’t finished, though. After Alvaro Gonzalez saw red, Lionel Messi, who came off the bench with his side in trouble, smashed home a free-kick off the inside of the post just as the clocked ticked over into stoppage time, and then Suarez lashed a low strike past Sergio Asenjo to cap a remarkable encounter.

It’s difficult to know where to begin after a game like this. The temptation is to pass over such an erratic encounter when it comes to analysis, but Ernesto Valverde will reflect on how, once again, his efforts to rotate, to give Messi a rest, backfired. Barcelona, not for the first time this season, required the Argentinean to come off the bench and rescue them. Are they really that reliant on him?

A year ago, it seemed unlikely that Cazorla would ever play football again at the top level. It’s for this reason that the former Arsenal playmaker has provided one of the storylines of the season in La Liga, with this match another demonstration of his irrepressible quality. On a pitch packed with world class talent it was Cazorla, along with teammates Chukwueze and Ekambi, who shone brightest.

Villarreal - Asenjo 5, Gaspar 6, Alvaro 6, Funes Mori 6, Ruiz 5, Pedraza 6, Iborra 7, Cazorla 9, Morlanes 6, Chukwueze 9, Ekambi 8. Subs - Bacca 7, Bonera 5, Caseres 5.

Barcelona - Ter Stegen 8, Roberto 7, Umtiti 4, Lenglet 7, Alba 5, Busquets 5, Arthur 5, Vidal 5, Coutinho 7, Malcom 8, Suarez 7. Subs - Messi 7, Rakitic 5, Alena 5.

10’ Chukwueze... wow! What a run that was from the Nigerian striker. He picked the ball up just inside his own half and surged all the way into the Barcelona box. He draws the save from Ter Stegen.

13’ GOAL! Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona: Against the run of play somewhat, Barcelona have taken the lead! Malcom was released clear through down the right channel, the Brazilian surged into the box and then squared a pass for Coutinho to finish into the empty net. There's a hint of offside here, though. VAR?

16’ GOAL! Villarreal 0-2 Barcelona: He's made one and now he's scored one! Malcom has made quite the impact early on in this match for Barcelona. Vidal swung a cross into the box from the right side and Malcom got on the end of it to send a header back across goal and into the back of the net.

20’ Off the post! Inches away from being a third goal for Barcelona. Suarez played through Coutinho who tried to chip a cheeky finish over Asenjo, but it comes back off the Villarreal post.

24’ GOAL! Villarreal 1-2 Barcelona: Game on? Out of nowhere, Villarreal have given themselves a lifeline in this match. Chukwueze was given space to run into. His first shot came back off the base of the post and then he converts past Ter Stegen with his second effort.

43’ Chukwueze was through! The Nigerian's run in behind caught Barcelona off guard, but Ter Stegen was alert to it and comes off his line to narrow the angle and make the smothering save.

50’ GOAL! Villarreal 2-2 Barcelona: Incredible! Did he mean that? Ekambi was sent clear down the right wing, he had Iborra in the middle, but from the tightest of angles Ekambi managed to squeeze a shot past Ter Stegen who was caught completely by surprise! Villarreal are back on level terms!

62’ Messi is on! Here he comes. Messi is on and he replaces Coutinho, who actually had a pretty decent match. Can the Argentinean help turn this game around for Barcelona, who are in trouble right now?

62’ GOAL! Villarreal 3-2 Barcelona: What a remarkable turnaround! Iborra is played in behind the Barcelona defence, Alba was keeping him onside, and he clips a wonderful finish past Ter Stegen and into the back of the Barcelona net despite the best efforts of Alba to clear off the line.

70’ Tipped on to the bar! So close to a fourth goal for Villarreal! Chukwueze dribbled across the edge of the box and got the shot away. It picked up a deflection and Ter Stegen tips on to the bar!

80’ GOAL! Villarreal 4-2 Barcelona: Is that Villarreal out of sight? They incredibly have a fourth goal against Barcelona! What a pass it was from Cazorla, who picked out the run of Bacca through the middle. Bacca then showed the composure to round Ter Stegen and finish into the empty net!

87’ SENT OFF! That's a foolish challenge from Alvaro. He was already on a booking when he went through the back of Suarez and Villarreal are going to have to finish this match with 10 men.

90’ GOAL! Villarreal 4-3 Barcelona: Is it too little too late? As soon as Barcelona won that freekick right on the edge of the box you just knew that Messi would convert it and that's exactly what happened! He finds the back of the net via the inside of Asenjo's post! Grandstand finish!

93’ GOAL! Villarreal 4-4 Barcelona: It's a late, late, late equaliser! It's Suarez and it's 4-4! The cross was slung into the box, the ball bounced out to Suarez and he got his foot over the ball and lashed home a low finish from about 12 yards out! Barcelona have salvaged a point with the last kick of the game.

Lionel Messi has scored six direct free-kicks in La Liga this season. No Premier League team has more than three this season, with 18 in total across all 20 teams.

Santi Cazorla created eight chances against Barcelona - the joint-most chances created by a player in a single La Liga game this season.

Malcom scored and assisted in the same game for the first time as a Barcelona player (in all competitions).