Lionel Messi has 19 La Liga assists this season. That's the most by any player in a league season since 2010-11 when Messi last reached that landmark.

When Messi got his 18th earlier he was the first person to reach that figure since he did in 2014-15.

Just in competition with himself basically.

Gbadero Toluwalope: At this rate, Messi may end up with a ridiculously high number of assists this season! 19 with five games still left?

These are Barcelona's top scorers in all competitions with Luis Suarez moving up to joint third with today's goal.

630 - Lionel Messi232 - Cesar Rodríguez194 - Ladislao Kubala, Luis Suarez

Barcelona are in control at half-time thanks to one of their better attacking performances in recent times.

Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen looks for his first assist of the season with a long ball to Antoine Griezmann but the home keeper comes out of his box to clear.

Where have this Barcelona been all season? It needs a Samuel Chukwueze handball to stop Lionel Messi starting another move.

Three minutes added on.

Some of Barcelona's football has been magnificently slick. Proper vintage stuff. Jordi Alba picks out Luis Suarez, whose shot is saved - and the Uruguayan fires the rebound over. Then the officials reveal Alba was offside so not of that counted.

Villarreal look good on the counter. On this instance Samuel Chukwueze whips in a cross before any team-mate has caught up with him and the Barca keeper holds.

Barca counter from the follow-up corner. Antoine Griezmann picks out Arturo Vidal and the Chilean midfielder's powerful shot is straight at the keeper.

Carlos Bacca almost equalises with his first touch. He runs onto a brilliant Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa pass forward and tries to shoot across Marc-Andre ter Stegen who turns it wide.

Paco Alcacer has to go off with an injury. Carlos Bacca is on. It's not clear how he hurt himself but it might have been in that attack after 30 minutes.

Good attack by Villarreal. Santi Cazorla feeds Alberto Moreno, who almost finds Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Three former Premier League players - with mixed success - linking up there.

Rapid counter from Villarreal. Paco Alcacer starts it with a brilliant dummy on the halfway line. He exchanges a few passes with Gerard Moreno before picking out Samuel Chukwueze who shoots over the bar.

Cooling break now.

Lionel Messi has 18 La Liga assists this season. That's the most by any player in a league season since 2014-15 when he last reached that landmark.

Villarreal's first attack in a fair while but Alberto Moreno's cross is just too high for Gerard Moreno.

Another good Lionel Messi run but Gerard Pique - in the opposition box for some reason - takes over but loses possession.

This is as good as I've seen Barcelona play in ages. Lionel Messi slips in Jordi Alba but he just takes too long to get a cross in.