Messi creates an opening on the right for Arturo Vidal, whose right‑footed effort from a tight angle flies high and wide.

Messi delivers a dangerous cross that Gerard Piqué meets with a header from the centre of the box, but Asenjo saves in the middle of his goal.

Messi unleashes a left‑footed shot from outside the box, but it is blocked by a Villarreal defender before it can trouble the goalkeeper.

Messi threads a precise pass to Luis Suárez, who rifles a right‑footed shot from outside the box into the top right corner for Barcelona’s second goal.

On the edge of halftime, Messi combines with Antoine Griezmann, setting him up for a clever left‑footed chip from outside the box into the top right corner.

Messi drives into the area and hits a left‑footed shot from the centre of the box, forcing Sergio Asenjo into a save under the crossbar.

Messi slips a pass to Jordi Alba, whose left‑footed shot from the left side of the box is saved low by Sergio Asenjo.

Messi finds the net, but after a VAR review his goal is controversially ruled out and the score remains 3–1.

Messi feeds Martin Braithwaite in the box, and Braithwaite’s right‑footed shot from the centre of the area is saved by Sergio Asenjo.