Barcelona vs. Villarreal: Score, Grades, Reaction from Copa Del Rey Semi-Final

Barcelona will take a two-goal advantage into the second half of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie with Villarreal after a 3-1 victory in the first leg at the Camp Nou.    

Lionel Messi opened the scoring for the hosts with half-time looming, while goals from Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique after the break were enough for Luis Enrique's side to pick up a vital win. Manu Trigueros equalised for the visitors just after half-time. It could have been more for the hosts, too, but Neymar had a second-half penalty saved.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

These two sides met 10 days ago in league action, with the Blaugrana coming out on top in an enthralling 3-2 victory. That night, Villarreal played a superb counter-attacking game, and it was clear from the off in this clash that they were going to deploy similar tactics again.

As noted by Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez, the visitors had no problem adopting some aggressive principles, too:

The Yellow Submarine were unashamed in their attempts to keep the attacking talents of Messi et al quiet while springing from a deeper position, and for the opening 20 minutes, they did that very well. Nonetheless, manager Marcelino will be a little disappointed that his side were pretty profligate in their opportunities on the counter, meaning the Blaugrana were able to sustain pressure.

Dermot Corrigan of ESPN provided a succinct summation of the opening 25 minutes:

Luis Suarez was also being contained, but his endeavour off the ball is always admirable, and ultimately, his work rate was the catalyst for Barcelona edging in front. The Uruguayan nicked the ball off Mateo Musacchio in a dangerous area, took his time and laid one on a plate for Messi to put the hosts in front.

David Ramos/Getty Images

As noted by Samuel Marsden of Sport, the Camp Nou crowd were appreciative of the former Liverpool man's industrious efforts:

The Blaugrana went into half-time with the momentum accrued from that late goal, and after the break, you'd have expected them to come flying out of the traps. But Villarreal are a resilient outfit, and within three minutes of the restart, they were back on level terms in spectacular fashion.

Trigueros bagged the goal, smashing home a thunderous strike from 30 yards after loose play in the Blaugrana midfield. But as noted by football writer Rafael Hernandez, Barcelona 'keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen should have done a lot better:

Enrique's men had clearly been caught cold, but that goal seemed to galvanise them; within seconds, Iniesta restored their one-goal advantage. Suarez was involved in the buildup once again, nudging a neat pass into the path of the Spaniard, who fired home emphatically from close range.

David Ramos/Getty Images

As noted by WhoScored, Iniesta has flourished in this competition this season:

Another player who's been in decent goalscoring form this campaign is Pique. With Barcelona putting their opponents under a lot of pressure, the centre-back nodded in from a deep Messi corner to double the advantage. It was a deserved goal for the Spanish defender, who has enjoyed a real upturn in form as of late for the Blaugrana.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Barcelona continued to pile forward and won a penalty with 20 minutes remaining. Messi relinquished his usual duties to Neymar, but the Brazilian had his effort well saved by Sergio Asenjo. Despite his faux pas from the spot, there were plenty happy to see Neymar get the chance to add to his goal haul:

The match meandered toward a close from that point on, with neither side making much of an impact in attacking areas. A two-goal advantage will delight Enrique going into the second leg at the Madrigal, but after Asenjo's save, Villarreal will feel as though they are very much in the tie.

Messi shone yet again, and he’s enjoying a wonderful run of form at the moment. If he continues to turn in the kind of displays we’ve been treated to as of late, the Blaugrana will surely be sampling glory come the end of the campaign.

The Copa may not be their priority, but some silverware in the final on May 29 would add gloss to what's shaping up to be a fine season.

Grades

Lionel Messi: A

While he wasn't at his most clinical in front of goal, Messi terrorised the Villarreal defence throughout the course of the contest. His role floating inside off the right flank makes him so difficult to pick up, and his coalescence of goalscoring instincts and creativity were a joy to watch once again.

Luis Suarez: A

The Uruguayan looks to be settling in at Barcelona. He was at the heart of everything for the Blaugrana in this victory, probing at the Villarreal back line with some astute link-up with Messi, winning the ball back and incisively moving in and around the penalty area. The former Liverpool man was inches away from scoring from just inside his own half.

Mateo Musacchio: D

Once Bruno hobbled off, Musacchio was badly exposed to the intricacies of the formidable attacking triumvirate of Barcelona. He lost possession cheaply for the first goal and was slipped by Pique on the corner for the killer third; it was an evening to forget for the Villarreal centre-back.

Post-Match Reaction

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Luis Enrique: "I think we played a complete game, both in attack and when we lost the ball." #fcblive

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) February 11, 2015"

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Luis Enrique: "Again scoring quickly after conceding? We work on that, of course, that's why we have a psychologist. Sometimes it works..."

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) February 11, 2015"

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Luis Enrique: "Messi and Luis Suarez linking up well? Good players always link up well. Their good relation of the pitch can help too."

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) February 11, 2015"

Pique, per AS:

"

The result is good but it could have been better. El Madrigal is a difficult place to go and we have to be careful. It is a good outcome for us but it is far from over.

In the league match we suffered more, we have been more attentive to the counter-attacks and it helped us. They still had some but we’re pretty happy with this aspect of our play.

...

At the Camp Nou things are more closed, away from home we tend to open out. Here it’s about possession, we dominated more, we have fewer chances to hit on the counter attack.

"