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Antoine Griezmann answered his critics in fashion on Sunday by scoring with a sensational chip as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-1 to maintain their faint La Liga title hopes alive. After the humiliation of being introduced on within the 90th minute against his former club Atletico Madrid, Griezmann was again within the beginning line-up at La Ceramica and repaid the religion with a surprising aim, teed up by Lionel Messi. “It was the kind of goal only great players can score,” stated Barcelona coach Quique Setien. “He played a spectacular match.”
Messi additionally laid on a curling Luis Suarez shot into the highest nook after Gerard Moreno cancelled out a Pau Torres own-goal that had put Barca in entrance. Ansu Fati then added a fourth late on.
An spectacular victory for Setien’s facet reduces the hole again to 4 factors behind Real Madrid, who earlier floor out one other 1-Zero win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, with a Sergio Ramos penalty proving the distinction.
Madrid’s resilient performance, and their third 1-0 victory in a row, provided a stark distinction to a goal-fest from Barcelona that was definitely simpler on the attention however instructive on the title race too.
An end-to-end contest, stuffed with probabilities for each side, confirmed Messi, Suarez and Griezmann at their free-flowing greatest but the defence was opened up with ease by Villarreal, who might need scored extra.
Madrid’s self-discipline and organisation has made them agency favourites with 4 video games remaining.
“We needed this match a while ago,” admitted Setien. “We have to keep adding points and we’ll see what happens.”
Griezmann had skilled his lowest second since becoming a member of Barcelona on Tuesday within the draw towards Atletico however this was the right response.
He celebrated his aim by sharing a heat embrace with Messi.
Villarreal regarded a tough opponent after profitable 5 video games out of six for the reason that restart, a run that has put them in in touching distance of the highest 4.
This defeat leaves them three factors behind Sevilla, who play Eibar on Monday.
The first half was maybe essentially the most entertaining in La Liga for the reason that restart, with 4 targets and probabilities for 2 or three extra.
Barca had been forward inside three minutes, Torres diverting Jordi Alba’s cross into his personal web below stress from Griezmann on the close to submit.
Ramos on the spot
But Villarreal had been degree 11 minutes later as an excellent cross from Samuel Chukwueze despatched Paco Alcacer scampering in down the suitable and he did brilliantly to change to Santi Cazorla on the other facet.
Cazorla’s drive was parried however solely to Moreno, who completed.
Messi laid on two luxurious assists earlier than half-time however the finishes had been even higher.
After chesting the ball down within the centre circle, Messi touched and turned, leaving his marker for useless.
He drove by means of two Villarreal defenders earlier than pushing the ball left to Suarez, who arrived from the angle on the sting of the field and curled first time into the far nook.
If that was energy, Griezmann’s was finesse, Messi and Suarez combining earlier than Messi dragged again to the Frenchman, who caressed a pleasant chip over Sergio Asenjo and in.
Messi thought he had his aim within the second half however Arturo Vidal was offside.
Suarez was taken off, presumably rested, and Fati added a fourth off the bench. The teenager reduce in from the left and pulled his shot again contained in the close to submit.
After edging out Getafe on Thursday, by means of a Ramos spot-kick, Madrid repeated the trick at San Mames, their captain’s nerve from the spot combining with a gutsy show for a pivotal win.
Ramos was maybe lucky to not concede a penalty himself late on when, off the ball, he appeared to slide and tread on the foot of Raul Garcia, however Madrid escaped.
Instead, the defender’s 10th aim of the season, one of the best tally of his profession, proved decisive.
Promoted
“It’s a massive win,” stated Ramos. “We knew today was going to be one of the biggest games that we have left.
“It’s all the time a tough recreation away at Bilbao and we noticed it like that. We’re pleased with one other essential three factors that put extra stress on Barcelona.”
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