:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67476469/1251572254.jpg.0.jpg)
FULL-TIME, Barcelona 4-0 Villarreal: Pretty good start to the season, boys!
86min: Two brilliant saves by Asenjo to stop Trincão and then Messi. Barça still looking for a fifth at the end.
78min: Two more changes from Koeman as Trincão and Pjanic replace Griezmann and Busquets.
72min: Nice attacking move down the left, great cross from Alba and a terrible header from Messi.
69min: Two changes for Barça as Dembélé replaces Ansu Fati and Pedri comes on for Coutinho.
67min: Couple of good chances for Messi and good stops from Asenjo. Barça still in control despite Villarreal’s dominance of possession in the second half.
62min: Villarreal with lots of possession as Barça retreat and try to score a fifth on the counter.
55min: Intensity has dropped from both teams as expected with the score, but Barça remain dangerous whenever Coutinho, Ansu Fati and Messi get involved.
SECOND HALF KICKOFF! Barcelona 4-0 Villarreal: And we’re underway! Can we keep up the intensity for a few more minutes and score more goals?
HALFTIME, Barcelona 4-0 Villarreal: We’ve just watched 45 exceptional minutes of football from Barcelona. Almost perfect on both sides of the ball. Extremely impressive.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Villarreal (Torres OG 45’): OWN GOAL! In the final play before halftime, Messi tries to find Busquets inside the box but his cross is deflected home by Pau Torres!
40min: Barça just put together an UNBELIEVABLE attacking move with all kinds of passes and runs and a shot by Coutinho that is stopped by Asenjo. It would have been an insane fourth goal.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Villarreal (Messi 35’): IT’S THREE! Lionel Messi places the ball just under the keeper and opens his account for the season!
34min: PENALTY FOR BARÇA! Ansu Fati takes on Mario Gaspar and is taken down inside the box!
30min: Barça now in full control even though they’re not quite dominating possession. There’s lots of pressing and intensity to recover the ball, good movement without the ball and Villarreal can’t put together any meaningful attacks right now.
25min: Amazing one-two between Messi and Ansu Fati and the captain’s shot is blocked at the line by Pau Torres. Would have been an awesome third goal.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Villarreal (Ansu Fati 19’): IT’S TWO FOR BARÇA! Fantastic counter-attack and Coutinho finds Ansu Fati all alone on the left wing for an easy finish and the phenom’s second of the half!
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Villarreal (Ansu Fati 15’): BARÇA TAKE THE LEAD! Lenglet finds Alba with a BRILLIANT long ball, Alba waits for a runner and finds Ansu Fati for a beautiful finish and the opening goal of the season!
10min: Good response from Barça with good possession work and high pressing to get the ball back. No real chances yet but the intensity is there.
5min: First good attacking move down the middle, Messi finds Alba who tries a low cross to the six-yard box but Albiol blockes it away for a corner.
4min: Strong start by Villarreal with high pressing and good attacking moves on the wings. Barça still looking for some rhythm.
KICKOFF! Barcelona 0-0 Villarreal: And we’re underway! Come on, boys!
LINEUPS
BARCELONA
Starting XI: Neto; Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Busquets, De Jong; Griezmann, Coutinho, Ansu Fati; Messi (4-2-3-1)
Bench: Iñaki Peña (GK), Arnau (GK), Araujo, Mingo, Firpo, Aleñá, Pjanic, Puig, Rafinha, Pedri, Trincão, Dembélé
VILLARREAL
Starting XI: Asenjo; Gaspar, Albiol, Torres, Estupiñán; Chukwueze, Coquelin, Parejo, Gómez; Alcácer, Gerard (4-4-2)
Bench: Rulli (GK), Funes Mori, Bacca, Iborra, Trigueros, Kubo, Costa, Lanchi, Baena, Fer Niño
WELCOME TO THE GREATEST STADIUM ON EARTH!!! For the first time this season the Camp Nou will open its doors for an official Barcelona match, and it is a good one: the Blaugrana kick off the La Liga season against a very strong Villarreal team, and this should be a very fun 90 minutes. And you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. LET’S LIVE BLOG!
(Note: the comments will be open only when the team news come out, because our commenter people love commenting and sometimes there are too many comments in the comments section)
MATCH INFO
Competition/Round: 2020-21 La Liga, Matchday 3
Date/Time: Sunday, September 27, 2020, 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India)
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández
HOW TO WATCH, STREAM LA LIGA
How to watch on TV: beIN SPORTS (USA & Canada), LaLigaTV (UK), SuperSport Football (Nigeria), Movistar LaLiga (Spain), Not Available (India), others
How to stream: fuboTV (USA), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (USA & Canada), Premier Player (UK), Facebook Live (India), Movistar+ (Spain), others
Matchday Thread Rules
We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:
Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, no swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.
Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!