Barcelona Claim Emotional win

Barcelona overcame a 2-0 second half deficit thanks to a pair of own goals and a late Lionel Messi winner to take the three points.

Head coach Gerardo Martino pencilled in a back four of Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Marc Bartra and Adriano to protect goalkeeper Pinto. In midfield it was the trusted trio of Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta while in attack Pedro and Alexis Sánchez joined Messi.

It was a fairly even first half hour with a 17th minute Messi chance being the best scoring opportunity for Barcelona.

Following a Xavi chance in the 41st minute, Villarreal's attack would spring to life in the moments right before halftime.

The action would come via the club's Mexican duo of Giovani dos Santos and Javier Aquino as Dos Santos did well on the left side before centering for Aquino whose shot was cleared off the line by Bartra.

But the danger from the Yellow Submarine persisted and it yielded the game's first goal seconds before the break as Jonathan Pereira played a ball into an unmarked Cani who then fired a shot just inside the post to put the hosts up 1-0.

Following halftime Barcelona looked to draw level and nearly did in the 54th minute when a Messi shot was saved by Asenjo. One minute later Villarreal boss Marcelino saw his team double the margin when Trigueros found the back of the net with a powerful header off an Aquino cross.

The second strike from Villarreal increased Barcelona's urgency as time ticked down on their final chance to claim a trophy on the season. Martino's men clawed back to halve the margin in the 65th minute when an Alves shot was redirected into the Villarreal net by Gabriel.

Good fortune would smile down again on Barcelona as 13 minutes later they equalized through another Villarreal own goal as Musacchio put an Alves cross past Asenjo and into his own net.

With the momentum in their favor, Barcelona hunted for the winner and Messi nearly got it on an 82nd minute shot that Asenjo parried away for a corner. However one minute later the Argentine made good when Busquets played a superb ball to substitute Cesc Fabregas who then found Messi and the diminutive native of Rosario stroked it home to give Barcelona the 3-2 lead.

Playing with so much emotion, Barcelona were not about to let Villarreal steal a late third and the relief and joy was palpable on the faces of Martino's men when the final whistle sounded to conclude what has been a most trying week for the club.