Barcelona's title protection was derailed as Villarreal romped to a sensational 5-3 victory in La Liga with three late objectives on Saturday.
After Actual Madrid moved two factors away from Girona on the high of the league with a win in Las Palmas, the stress was firmly on Xavi Hernandez's defending champions in third place.
In a see-saw match, Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach put Villarreal two objectives forward earlier than Barcelona fought again.
Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri struck earlier than Eric Bailly headed into his personal web to provide the hosts the lead.
Nonetheless, Goncalo Guedes scored within the 84th minute earlier than injury-time strikes from Alexander Sorloth and Jose Luis Morales left Barcelona ten factors behind rivals Madrid.
Xavi introduced in Joao Felix and midfielder Oriol Romeu from the facet that misplaced to Athletic Bilbao in further time within the Copa del Rey in midweek, in addition to younger defender Hector Fort.
After that elimination and a thrashing from Madrid within the last of the Spanish Tremendous Cup, Barcelona solely has La Liga and the Champions League left on the desk.
Barcelona's 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal offered spark and invention on the best, however Villarreal had been the extra harmful group within the first half.
Barcelona have conceded far too many early objectives this season and after three minutes Alex Baena struck, however it was disallowed for offside.
Felix had a vicious strike tipped over by Filip Jorgensen earlier than Villarreal had one other strike controversially disallowed.
Moreno shot in on the close to submit, however Alexander Sorloth was offside and blocked defender Ronald Araujo.
Nonetheless, it was third time fortunate for the Yellow Sub, with Moreno firing Sorloth's cutback with aplomb – this time it counted.
Because the gamers trudged into halftime, disgruntled supporters whistled Barcelona into their non permanent residence on the Olympic Stadium.
Xavi made a triple substitution at halftime, throwing on Joao Cancelo, Pedri Gonzalez and 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi.
It set the group on hearth as they pushed Villarreal again, however they conceded a silly second aim after a severe mistake from Cancelo.
The defender miskicked the ball, permitting former Barcelona winger Akhomach to gallop in direction of aim, spherical Inaki Pena and roll residence.
Undeterred, Barcelona fought their manner again in.
Gündogan completed it off excellently after Robert Lewandowski guided the ball in his route on the sting of the penalty space after an hour.
Pedri then drove residence to degree the rating eight minutes later, earlier than Bailly headed Gundogan's free-kick into his personal aim.
Barcelona substitute Vitor Roque got here near ending fourth, however Jorgensen saved his low aim after falling behind.
Nonetheless, Barcelona's defence, which was a far cry from the watertight again line that led them to the title final season, was as soon as once more torn aside by Sorloth.
The striker fed winger Guedes, who fired a aim previous Pena into the far nook.
Barcelona had been awarded a penalty within the ninetieth minute when Santi Comesana blocked Gundogan's cross together with his elbow, however the referee canceled it after reviewing the incident on VAR, leaving the hosts livid.
Worse nonetheless, Sorloth completed from shut vary to place Villarreal forward and Morales rubbed salt within the wound with a late fifth as Barcelona had been in whole disarray.
AFP
