lionel Messi and Neymar both scored to help Barcelona come from behind twice to beat Villarreal 3-2 and stay in the hunt for the Spanish league on Sunday. Messi and Neymar netted their 22nd and 15th league goals of the season respectively as luis Enrique's Barcelona never lost its nerve, and answered sixth-place Villarreal goal for goal to end the visitor's club record run of 18 games without a loss.
“With those guys up front, it can't get any better,” said midfielder Rafina, who took full advantage of a rare start to score Barcelona's other goal. Villarreal's Denis Cheryshev struck on the half-hour mark to start the free-scoring match at Camp Nou. Neymar made it 1-1 just before halftime, only for luciano Vietto to finish off another Villarreal counterattack in the 51st.
But Barcelona hit back, and this time delivered a quick and decisive double blow. Rafina pulled the hosts level for a second time in the 53rd, and two minutes later Messi fired home a long-range shot - his 32nd goal in 30 games in all competitions this season. Villarreal, however, didn't fade and both sides provided a thrilling second half of back-and-forth action that bodes well for their Copa del Rey semifinal starting in two weeks.
Barcelona has won eight in a row and stayed one point behind leader Real Madrid, which has a game in hand against Sevilla on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Sevilla striker Iago Aspas scored with one minute left to snatch a 3-2 win over 10-man Espanyol, taking some measure of vengeance for its elimination from the Copa del Rey as it rose into a provisional fourth place.
Aritz Aduriz scored twice in the second half to give Athletic Bilbao a 2-0 victory at bottom side levante and end its seven-round winless streak. Almeria also edged Getafe 1-0 for its first win in 10 home games to move out of the relegation zone.