EPL
Ex-Liverpool Players Shine In La Liga Thriller
Former Liverpool players Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho were on target for Spanish champions Barcelona who played out a thrilling eight-goal salvo at the home of Villareal in their La Liga meeting on Tuesday night.
Coutinho gave the visitors a 12th minute lead off an assist from fellow Brazilian Malcom before the much maligned Malcom turned goalscorer four minutes later.
Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze pulled one back for the Yellow Submarines midway into the first half.
Karl Toko Ekambi completed the comeback for the hosts in the 50th minute before they went ahead for the first time in the game through former Leicester City midfielder Vicente Iborra.
Substitute Carlos Bacca rounded Barcelona goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen before scoring the 4th goal for his home team with ten minutes left on the clock.
Villareal showed real character to come back from two goals down to lead 4-2 against Barcelona who were handed a lifeline when Alvaro Gonzalez was sent off for two yellow cards.
The numerical advantage worked perfectly in favour of Barcelona with two goals in added time.
Lionel Messi started the game on the bench before he was subbed on for the final hour.
He scored a breathtaking freekick on the stroke of full-time to hand Barcelona the chance to record a point.
Luis Suarez then scored the fourth goal with virtually the last kick of the game to earn the share of the spoils for his team.
