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Villareal
Alphonse Areola – 7
It was wonderful goalkeeping by Areola who overall had a very good game. He made some fine saves but couldn’t stop the three brilliant goals. For a score that could have been more than it was, it was quite a good performance by him.
Mario – 6
Mario received the first yellow card for Villarreal for a foul on Neymar. From Villarreal’s previous match, only four players from that group of players got a start in this game, Mario being one of them.
Daniele Bonera – 7
Daniele was booked for a late challenge on Neymar. It was a good test for him and he lived up to the fans’ excitement of him starting by putting up a decent performance.
Victor Ruiz – 7
One of the few players from Villarreal who did a pretty decent job. He was crucial in the first half and played a big role in defence.
Jaume Costa – 5
Costa handed Barcelona their second goal by taking down Munir at the edge of the box and also getting himself a yellow. He attempted to send a some defence-splitting passes but due to Barcelona’s defensive alertness the attacks were repeatedly rendered ineffective.
Dos Santos – 8
Dos Santos was perhaps the best Villarreal player in the match. He was fortunate to escape a yellow card following his late challenge on Alves leaving him on the deck.
Tomas Pina - 6
Pina made his presence felt for Villarreal early on with some tasty challenges. However, he was the first substitution made for Villarreal when he was subbed off for Bakambu. It was perhaps a positive change for the team, however strange as it was having a midfielder for a forward.
Bruno Soriano – 7
Villarreal threatened on counters as captain Bruno delivered a super through ball into Suarez which made Villarreal show their ability to threaten with their pace early on in the first half.
Samu Castillejo – 8
Castillejo’s first effort was futile as the ball went over the crossbar but he almost put his team in front and broke the deadlock with Villarreal’s best chance of the match in the first half, just seconds before the half time. His low strike, however, was saved by Bravo.
Denis Suarez – 6
Starting for Villarreal today, Denis Suarez attempted to create a few chances. He did have a couple of good crosses in and battled well with the full backs but despite playing the whole game had little impact on either side of the pitch.
Roberto Soldado - 7
Soldado was one of the best players for Villarreal and it seemed like he was fighting a one-man battle in that Villarreal attack at some point. The visitors came close to taking the lead as Soldado found a yard of space outside the box before striking one towards the bottom corner, but his effort was just wide.
Substitutes:
Cedric Bakambu – 6
Although it was a positive change for Villarreal to bring on Bakambu, with the way Barcelona was pressing, it would be very hard for him to make an impact on the way the match was going.
Samuel Garcia - N/A
Bringing on Samuel for Castillejo was a change that gave the substitute little time to impact the game.
