Messi cuts inside and unleashes a left‑footed shot from outside the box that is pushed away from the bottom left corner by the keeper.

Messi drives at Villarreal’s midfield and is fouled in the attacking half, earning Barcelona a dangerous free kick.

From distance Messi tries another left‑footed effort from outside the box, but his shot is blocked by a defender.

After a corner routine, Messi picks out Dembélé on the edge of the area, but the Frenchman’s right‑footed shot flies high and wide.

Messi again draws a foul in the attacking half as he tries to turn between lines, winning another free kick for Barcelona.

Messi feeds Ivan Rakitić outside the box, whose right‑footed shot whistles just wide of the right post.

Driving forward, Messi is halted by another foul in the attacking half, continuing to pin Villarreal back with his ball carrying.

Messi unleashes a low left‑footed shot from outside the box toward the bottom left corner, but Asenjo gets down to save.

Busquets threads a through ball toward Messi, but the move is cut short as Messi is flagged offside.

Messi meets Jordi Alba’s pass in the center of the box and shoots left‑footed, but Asenjo blocks the effort in the middle of his goal.

Early in the second half, Messi’s left‑footed effort from outside the box is blocked before it can test the keeper, after a pass from Jordi Alba.

Messi attempts a through ball to Coutinho, sending him in behind, but the Brazilian is ruled offside and the chance is stopped.

Messi sets up Coutinho outside the box, but Coutinho’s right‑footed shot skims just wide of the right upright.

Messi slips a perfectly weighted through ball into the box for Carles Aleñá, who runs onto it and finishes with his left foot into the bottom left corner for Barcelona’s second goal.