Barcelona Secures First Away Win In The La Liga Following Victory Against Villarreal.

Barcelona secures late win against Villarreal on Saturday night to get first away win in the La Liga this season.

The game at the Estadio de La Ceramica was Xavi Hernandez's first away game in charge as manager of the side, and third game in total. He won at home against Espanyol last weekend and now at Villarreal, with a Tuesday's goalless draw at home to Benfica in the Champions League.

Late goals from Memphis Depay and Philippe Coutinho handed the Blaugrana side a well deserved 3-1 victory away from home after failing to win their past five away matches in the league (3 draws, and 2 losses).

Barcelona had opened scoring in the day early in the second half through Frenkie de Jong who successfully tapped-in a cross from Jordi Alba. The goal was Initially ruled offside, but after VAR check, the goal was finally awarded a 1-0 lead to Barca. 

Villarreal didn't give up at they looked to bouce back from Tuesday's Champions League 2-0 defeat at home to Man United.

The Yellow Submarine slowly began to respond which led to some slack defending from Barca that allowed Villarreal substitute Samuel Chukwueze to swoop in and hit a first-time shot past goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to make it 1-1 and 14 minutes left to play.

The goal was Chukwueze's first of the season and in the LaLiga since he netted against the Catalans at the same stadium in a 1-2 defeat back in April 25, 2021, making it a back-to-back goals for the Nigerian against the Spanish giants.

Just when it looked like Unai Emery's men were poised to find a winner, Memphis Depay took advantage of a Villarreal's dreadful mistake at the back and restored Barcelona's initial lead at the 88th minute.

A stoppage time foul from Juan Foyth on Coutinho in the disheartened Villarreal box saw the Brazilian scored a third from the penalty spot in injury-time (94 mins), and ensured that Barca left the stadium with all three points in the bag.

"It was the game we dominated the least, but we won," said Xavi. "On Tuesday we deserved to win and we drew, today it could have been a draw, and we got the win. It's a tremendous victory for us."

The result leaves Barcelona in seventh position in the league standings with 23 points, three points behind Atletico Madrid in fourth and last Champions League qualification spot. 

Atletico still have a game to play away to Cádiz on Sunday. While Barca remain seven points behind leaders Real Madrid, who play at home on Sunday to third-placed Sevilla.