Messi unleashes a left‑footed shot from outside the box that is heading for the bottom right corner, but Sergio Asenjo saves it. Luis Suárez had set him up for the attempt.

Messi takes a left‑footed shot from outside the area after a cross from Jordi Alba, but his effort drifts wide to the left. It’s another early sighter that doesn’t hit the target.

From outside the box, Messi fires a left‑footed shot that is blocked by the Villarreal defense after being set up by Dani Alves. The attack is snuffed out before the ball can trouble the keeper.

Messi goes close with another left‑footed effort from outside the box, his shot flying just wide to the right after a pass from Andrés Iniesta. It’s one of several dangerous long‑range attempts in the first half.

Messi opens the scoring with a composed left‑footed strike from the center of the box into the top right corner, finishing clinically after being teed up by Luis Suárez. The goal puts Barcelona 1–0 ahead.

Right before halftime, Messi nearly adds another, meeting the ball on the right side of the six‑yard box and sending a right‑footed shot just wide of the far post. It’s a close‑range chance that narrowly escapes.

From a corner routine, Messi swings in a precise cross that Gerard Piqué meets with a header from the center of the box into the bottom left corner, making it 3–1 to Barcelona. Messi’s delivery perfectly picks out Piqué.