Barcelona top of La Liga with five wins from five
Villarreal also unbeaten after five games
Hosts sit fifth on same points as fourth-placed Atletico
Well, what did I say? I knew we were in for a great game tonight and it delivered.
What a way to end our La Liga coverage this weekend as Barcelona maintain their perfect start to the season.
We'll be back next week for more so make sure you tune in.
In the meantime, here is where you can find our La Liga news.
FT: Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona
Barcelona goalscorer Robert Lewandowski speaking to Premier Sports: "It's difficult to know what to say with regards to Marc [Andre ter-Stegen]. In terms of the game, it was very important we bounced back and to score five goals, we got another three points. We're playing every three days at the moment. The important was to win this game and we've done that.
"Everyone knows what we have to do, the older and the younger players. We have to score more goals than the opposition and that's what we've done.
"We're looking to get the ball into the quicker this season and that is where I want the ball. I want more contact with the ball."
FT: Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona
Six wins from six, 22 goals scored, five conceded and four points clear at the top of La Liga. What a start to the season this has been for Hansi Flick's Barcelona.
FT: Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona
The full-time whistle has blown and it's an emphatic win for Barcelona.
They stay at the top of La Liga and they stay perfect.
Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona
Ilias Akhomach is the next in the book for another kick out at Lamine Yamal. Captain Raphinha is not happy and is making the referee aware of that.
In other news, four minutes have been added on.
Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona
Poor challenge on Lamine Yamal from Sergi Cardona and a bit of pushing and shoving follows.
The Barcelona players are far from happy because Cardona has just kicked the teenager on the knee out of frustration. Could have been a red card, to be honest.
Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona
Barcelona still have Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo and Dani Olmo amongst others to come into this side.
Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona
It's scary how good Lamine Yamal is at just 17.
Also scary to think how good he could be.
Raphinha (83 mins)
Raphinha at the double! What a performance this has been.
An incredible outside-of-the-foot pass from Lamine Yamal finds Raphinha and he finishes first time for his second and Barcelona's fifth.
Villarreal 1-4 Barcelona
Nicolas Pepe's night is up along with Santi Comesana and Alex Baena. They are replaced by Denis Suarez, Ramon Terrats and Ilias Akhomach.
Villarreal 1-4 Barcelona
The first El Clasico is scheduled for Sunday, October 27 for those of you who were wondering.
Certainly not one to miss.
Villarreal 1-4 Barcelona
Hansi Flick must be so proud of his side after a tough loss in Monaco on Thursday.
Barcelona have put four past a side who have yet to taste defeat this season and they move four points clear at the top.
Early days but Flick's side look the real deal.
Raphinha (73 mins)
What a performance this is from Barcelona. Raphinha wraps up the points and maintains Barca's perfect start to the La Liga season with a fine finish.
Game over.
Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona
Lamine Yamal is fed by Raphinha on the right but the teenager is marshalled well as he looks to add a fourth.
As Villarreal push forward even more, you'd think the space is going to be there for Yamal.
Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona
Villarreal skipper Dani Parejo has been replaced by Pape Gueye.
Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona
You may wonder how Thierno Barry is on the pitch! He was brought on to replace Yeremy Pino as Villarreal look to pull themselves back into this one.
Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona
Thierno Barry thought he'd pulled a goal back with a fine header but the flag goes up and he's offside.
That missed penalty could prove costly.
Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona
It's not to be for Robert Lewandowski as his penalty strikes the foot of the post.
The Poland striker will have to wait for his hat-trick.
Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona
The penalty has been awarded and rightfully so, there can be no complaints over that one.
Robert Lewandowski for his hat-trick...
Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona
That's a penalty surely? Lamine Yamal is in complete disbelief as to how he's not been awarded a penalty and I have no idea how either.
He's been hacked down by Eric Bailly and the referee has been instructed to go and check the screen.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen joined Barcelona in 2014 and has made more than 400 appearances for them
Barcelona beat Villarreal to maintain their 100% record in La Liga, but Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a "very serious injury" and was carried off on a stretcher.
Robert Lewandowski got two goals and missed a penalty, Raphinha grabbed a double and Pablo Torre also scored as Hansi Flick’s side made it six league wins from six.
However, Ter Stegen’s injury near the end of the first half was a worrying development for Barca.
The 32-year-old Germany international and Barcelona captain was hurt when his right knee buckled as he landed while catching the ball and he was then carried off the pitch, holding his hands over his face as he left the field.
He was replaced by Inaki Pena and the back-up goalkeeper played a crucial part, making an excellent save to tip over an effort from former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe when the score was 2-1.
"I think it's a very serious injury. When he lay on the ground, you could see it straight away," Barcelona coach Flick told DAZN after the match.
Robert Lewandowski, 36, has scored six goals in six La Liga matches this season
In the match, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal hit the woodwork for Barca and Raphinha had an effort cleared off the line before the visitors took a deserved lead, Lewandowski converting from Torre’s pass in the 20th minute.
Barcelona were 2-0 up 15 minutes later as Lewandowski acrobatically hooked in the rebound after home goalkeeper Diego Conde parried Eric Garcia’s effort following a fine Yamal cross.
But Villarreal, who had won three and drawn two of their first five La Liga games of 2024-25, pulled one back three minutes later as former Newcastle and Leicester winger Ayoze Perez swept home Pepe’s low cross with a first-time finish.
The hosts pushed for an equaliser and Yeremy Pino headed against the crossbar, before Torre restored Barca’s two-goal advantage.
Lewandowski should have scored again after the impressive Yamal was fouled by Eric Bailly but fired his penalty against the foot of the post, before Raphinha scored twice in nine minutes late on to complete the convincing win.
Barcelona are top of La Liga, four points clear of reigning champions Real Madrid, who have drawn two of their six matches.
It was the perfect response for Flick’s side after they had begun their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 loss at Monaco on Thursday, in a game where Barca had to play with 10 men for 80 minutes after Garcia’s early red card.
"It was very important that we bounced back away from home and we scored five goals and got three points," said Lewandowski.
"Everyone knows what they have to do, the older players, the younger players, we know how we need to attack and defend.
"We're looking to get the ball into the box quicker this season and that's my zone, that's where I want to have more contact with the ball."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 18 |
| |
| 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 14 |
| |
| 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 13 |
| |
| 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 12 |
| |
| 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 11 |
| |
| 6 | Deportivo Alavés | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 10 |
|
| 7 | Osasuna | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 10 |
|
| 8 | Celta Vigo | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 9 |
|
| 9 | Rayo Vallecano | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
|
| 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| |
| 11 | Mallorca | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
|
| 12 | Girona | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 7 |
|
| 13 | Espanyol | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 7 |
|
| 14 | Leganés | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 6 |
|
| 15 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 5 |
| |
| 16 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 5 |
| |
| 17 | Real Valladolid | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 5 |
|
| 18 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 19 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 4 |
| |
| 20 | Las Palmas | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 2 |
|
Manager: Marcelino García
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Hans-Dieter Flick
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Marcelino García
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Hans-Dieter Flick
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
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