La Liga: Barca Finding Goal Rhythm Under Xavi With 3-1 Away Win At Villarreal

Philippe Coutinho's late penalty sealed a 3-1 triumph for Xavi Hernandez's side on Saturday after Frenkie De Jong and Memphis Depay's goals put daylight between Barcelona and Villarreal.

The victory is Barcelona's first away this season and Xavi's second successive win in La Liga.

Barca scored first when a rebound from Jordi Alaba was met with Depa's outstretched leg but Villarreal's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli kept it out only for Frenkie De Jong to tap it in.

Barcelona needed the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to confirm De Jong’s goal after it had been initially ruled offside. The VAR checked and found Depay had been onside to give Barcelona a 48th-minute lead.

Villarreal fought back to equalise through Chukwueze and were pressing their advantage in search of a late winner when they were caught by a counter-attack with Depay savouring the taste of it.

Depay calmly went around goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli to score a dramatic 88th-minute goal that restored their lead and Philippe Coutinho added a stoppage-time penalty as Barcelona advanced to 23 points, seven behind leaders Real Madrid who play Sevilla on Sunday.

Villarreal, beaten at home by Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday, remain in 12th spot in the standings with 16 points from 14 matches.

Barcelona’s victory followed a fortuitous 1-0 win over Espanyol last week in Xavi’s coaching debut and a goalless draw with Benfica in the Champions League in midweek.

"We dominated less than I expected but in the end we found the goal with Memphis. They are three golden points. You also have to be lucky. Villarreal did not deserve to lose,” Xavi said.

A handball then allowed substitute Coutinho the chance to make sure of the victory right at the end of the game.

Earlier on Saturday, Rayo Vallecano moved into fifth as they held Valencia to a 1-1 away draw, with Isi Palazon scoring for their visitors midway through the second half after Valencia had gone ahead in the opening 20 minutes through Carlos Soler’s penalty.

Iago Aspas scored the winner as Celta Vigo claimed a 2-1 triumph at Deportivo Alaves to end a run of three successive draws and move further away from the relegation zone.

Getafe remain second from bottom but did get an away point when they held Mallorca to a goalless draw.