Barca get past Villarreal but lose Messi to injury again

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FC Barcelona's Ansu Fati (L) vies with Villarreal's Ruben Pena during a Spanish league match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal in Barcelona, Spain, Sept. 24, 2019. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

FC Barcelona got back to winning ways but without really convincing as they beat Villarreal 2-1 in the Camp Nou Stadium.

The win comes on the back of Saturday's 2-0 defeat in Granada and with coach Ernesto Valverde starting to be questioned after a slow start to the season and the doubts won't go away after a match where Barca started well, but left their rivals with options until the final whistle.

Things got off to a perfect start for Valverde's men when they took the lead after just five minutes after Antoine Griezmann flicked home Leo Messi's near post corner.

Barca were in complete control and doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Arthur Melo was given a lot of time and space to line up a shot from outside the Villarreal penalty area. The Brazilian made no mistake with a thumping effort from 25 yards to put Barca 2-0 ahead.

Villarreal were under pressure and a 3-0 result looked likely, but Santi Cazorla got Villarreal back into the game a minute before the break with a swerving left foot shot which fooled Barca keeper Ter Stegen.

Barca's problems increased at the break when Messi failed to appear for the second half with another muscle injury and was replaced by Ousmane Dembele.

The second half started with Ter Stegen saving another Cazorla effort as the game turned into an entertaining end-to-end affair, although without clear chances for Barca.

Ansu Fati replaced Luis Suarez with just over 15 minutes remaining and straight away the 16-year-old had the ground on their feet with two shots that went just wide of the target.

He also drew a foul which saw Gerard Pique force a good save from Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo and the game ended with Griezmann firing over the Villarreal crossbar.

Earlier in the day Betis came back from a goal down to win 3-1 at home to Levante, who opened the score thanks to Hernani Santos in the seventh minute.

Things changes on the brink of halftime as Loren Moron equalized for Betis from inside the penalty area and the same player put Betis ahead three minutes after the break, before Borja Iglesias sealed the win in the 67th minute with all three assists coming from Joaquin Sanchez.

Valladolid drew 1-1 with Granada in Tuesday's another game saw both goals come in the first half as Carlos Fernandez's 42nd minute goal for the visitors cancelling out Oscar Planos' opener for Valladolid on goal difference.

The draw takes Granada to the top of the table on goal difference, although they have played an extra game than most of the sides just below them. 

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