Lionel Messi has a chance to break the deadlock with a free-kick from 25 yards. He strikes it well but is denied by Sergio Asenjo, who dives to his left and palms the ball away. One for the cameras that save.

Barca are handed a free-kick 30 yards from goal fro a foul on Rafinha. The set-piece is floated to the back post for Gerard Pique, but he is unable to wrap his foot around the ball and his attempted cross into the six-yard box drifts out of play.

Two chances in a minute almost bring the opening goal for Barcelona. Ivan Rakitic's driven ball across goal is cut out and out behind by Victor Ruiz, who is then on hand to put enough pressure on Jeremy Mathieu so that he puts a close-range shot from the resulting corner wide of the post.

An injury to Costa forces Villarreal into a change of their own.

Toniwater:, external Xavi made a mistake signing for another year, Luis Enrique will use him when needed which won't be often enough for Xavi's liking!

The Barca youngster departs having contributed little and on comes Neymar, who scored twice when these two met last December in a 2-1 Barca win.

Image source, AP

Barca are lacking a cutting edge in the final third. They are not moving the ball quickly or incisively enough and it is making it easy for the home defence. Neymar is possibly just the man they need to add some spark. And right on cue, here comes the Brazilian...

Neymar is warming up. It is not a surprise. Munir may have made a big splash last weekend but he has been very quiet here.

Ohhh, so unlucky for Villarreal. The home side break down the left and the ball is swung in to the Barca box into the channel behind the defence and in front of the keeper, forcing Jeremy Mathieu to dive in and poke a foot out which re-directs the ball onto the post. Fortunately for the away side, no Villarreal player is close enough to react and Claudio Bravo can gather the loose ball.

Villarreal's defence is a stubborn beast. Lionel Messi tries to find a way through with a little one-two on the edge of the box but he is crowded out by a host of yellow-clad units.

No Cristiano Ronaldo remember for Real Madrid tonight, which means Spain midfielder Isco is given the nod. He cost just the £23m last summer - loose change compared to what Real have splashed this transfer window. Iker Casillas continues in goal with new signing Keylor Navas again having to settle for a place on the bench.

Real Madrid starting XI: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Rodriguez, Bale, Benzema,

The second half starts in a familiar fashion as Dani Alves swings over a cross that lacks quality and allows Sergio Asenjo to pluck the ball out of the air.

Image source, AP

The second half is under way. Can Barca find a way through the Villarreal wall? Can the home side nick something against all odds? The next 45 minutes will reveal all.

Dutch Eredivisie

Image source, Getty Images

Second-half goals from Luuk de Jong and Adam Maher maintained PSV Eindhoven's winning start to the Eredivisie season as champions Ajax lost for a second successive week.

PSV beat Vitesse Arnhem 2-0 at home for a fourth successive win and a three-point lead over Zwolle, whose 100% record ended at NAC Breda, and Ajax's conquerors Groningen.

Ajax, seeking an unprecedented fifth successive title, were beaten 2-0 at Groningen a week after they had lost 3-1 at home to PSV.

Need I say more?

Speaking of Real Madrid... with deadline day looming large, here's a tit-bit of transfer gossip for you.

European champions Real Madrid have discussed a potential loan deal for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez. It is far from a done deal but one to keep a beady eye on.

La Liga rivals Valencia, along with Italian champions Juventus, have previously lodged bids for the Mexico international.

Don't forget, after this game has finished we will bring you the other half of the El Clasico pair, Real Madrid, as they travel to Real Sociedad. Carlo Ancelotti will be without newly-crowned best player in Europe Cristiano Ronaldo. Don't feel too sorry for him, though, he still has Bale, Rodriguez, Benzema, et al to choose from.

Rian Hoskins:, external Clearly Xavi and Luis Enrique are not on the best terms. Shows Enrique is managing his own way by using Rafinha ahead of Xavi.

And that is the break. It has been one-way traffic in the direction of the Villarreal goal but it remains goalless. Lionel Messi has seen a free-kick pushed onto the post Sergio Asenjo but the visitors have created little else to really test the home keeper. A pretty rubbish cut-up pitch maybe hasn't helped Barca's efforts but they have also lacked the quality when it matters.

We are closing in on half time and Villarreal will be pretty pleased with this, certainly more so than Barca. The away side have had pretty much all the ball but have not managed to break down the home defence.