Goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were enough for Barcelona to pick up a 2-0 win over 10-man
Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday.
The visitors were sluggish for long periods, but the dismissal of Villarreal's Dani Raba - in only his second
La Liga match - made their task that much easier for the final half hour.
And the pressure told as Suarez finished smartly to give his side the lead in the 72nd minute, before Messi capitalised
on some poor defending to make sure of the three points seven minutes from time - his 49th goal of the calendar year.
After the break, Barca continued to toil, but they got the break they needed when Raba went flying into a challenge on
Sergio Busquets, leaving the referee no option but to brandish the red card.
Jordi Alba then fed Suarez in the middle, only for the Uruguay international to be denied by the post, but with 18 minutes
to go, he did get that elusive goal after a fine Barca move.
The sequence was started started by Messi, who fed Paco Alcacer, who delightfully threaded it through for Suarez. He had plenty
to do, but superbly rounded Sergio Asenjo before firing home. That was his 50th away goal for Barcelona.
Suarez then volleyed a golden opportunity wide, before Messi made sure of the victory. Busquets cut out a wayward Jaume Costa
pass out with ease, fed Messi, who darted between two defenders to make it two and ensure his side maintained their march towards regaining their La Liga crown.