This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/11/barcelona-villarreal-copa-del-rey-semi-final-first-leg-match-report
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Luis Suárez shines to give Barcelona upper hand against Villarreal | |
(4 months later) | |
Luis Suárez had the Barcelona fans chanting his name after he set up Lionel Messi to score the opening goal in a 3-1 victory in the first leg off their Copa del Rey semi-final at home to Villarreal on Wednesday. | |
The Uruguay forward won possession in the Villarreal half in the 41st minute at Camp Nou before laying a perfect pass into Messi’s path for the Argentina captain to sweep a first-time shot past the Villarreal goalkeeper, Sergio Asenjo. | |
Barça squandered a series of chances before Villarreal levelled three minutes into the second period after the home keeper, MarcAndré Ter Stegen, let a long-range shot from Manuel Trigueros straight through his hands. | |
Andrés Iniesta put Barça back in front a minute later when he fired a loose ball low into the net and Gerard Piqué made it 3-1 in the 64th minute with a header from a Messi corner. | |
Messi would normally have taken the spot-kick when Barça were awarded a penalty for a Mateo Musacchio handball in the 70th minute but, after he stepped aside to allow Neymar to take it, the Brazil captain had his effort well saved by Asenjo. | |
Suárez won more appreciation from the home support in stoppage time when he almost caught Asenjo off his line with a lobbed shot from near the halfway line but the ball drifted narrowly wide with the keeper beaten. |
Previous version
1
Next version