Top-four hopefuls Villarreal came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with league leaders Barcelona in a pulsating La Liga affair at El Madrigal on Sunday.

First-half goals from Ivan Rakitic and Neymar looked to be sending Barcelona 11 points clear at the top of the table, but Cedric Bakambu cut the deficit in the 57th minute, before an own-goal from Jeremy Mathieu made it 2-2 six minutes later.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique recalled Claudio Bravo and Gerard Pique to his starting XI following the clash with Arsenal, while Sergi Roberto and Arda Turan replaced Dani Alves and Andres Iniesta for the Catalan outfit.

There was no respite for Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, however, with the trio, who entered the match with 106 goals between them for the season, all selected in the final third.

As for Villarreal, Samu Castillejo was passed fit despite limping out of their 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday night, but there was a change in central midfield as Manu Trigueros replaced Tomas Pina.

It was otherwise the same XI that took to the field in Germany, however, with Bakambu and Roberto Soldado starting in the final third. Mateo Musacchio, Jaume Costa and Jonathan dos Santos remained on the sidelines for the Yellow Submarine.

Villarreal almost took the lead inside the first minute when Bakambu raced clear of Pique before delivering into Trigueros, but the midfielder's effort, which deflected off Turan, hit the post before Bravo got down to collect.

Barcelona just were not given a moment to settle in the opening 10 minutes and Bakambu came close himself in the seventh minute, but the striker could not beat Bravo after meeting a cross from Denis Suarez.

It took until the 11th minute for Barcelona to fashion a half-chance, but Rakitic could only bend his effort wide of Sergio Asenjo's post after smart work from Neymar in a wide position.

The visitors had the lead in the 20th minute, however, following a mix-up inside the Villarreal box. Asenjo failed to meet a free kick from Messi and it fell kindly for Rakitic, who rolled the ball into the empty net for his fifth league goal of the campaign.

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The fact that four bookings arrived in the opening 24 minutes was an indication of the high intensity on display, while Villarreal boss Marcelino was sent to the stands for having too much to say to the referee.

Trigueros was next to come close for Villarreal 10 minutes before the break, but the Spaniard's strike was straight into the arms of Bravo, who collected before releasing the dangerous Neymar in a wide position.

Barcelona had their second of the match in the 41st minute, but it arrived in very controversial circumstances. Asenjo produced an excellent piece of goalkeeping to stop Neymar inside the box, but the referee remarkably pointed to the penalty spot and Neymar stepped up to make it 2-0 to the visitors.

Victor Ruiz and Antonio Rukavina both picked up bookings for Villarreal in the aftermath and two teams headed down the tunnel at the break amid boos from the home supporters, which were directed towards the official.

Bakambu's pace took him into the Barcelona box early in the second period, but the striker's attempt was straight into the arms of Bravo, before Bruno wasted a free kick from just outside the away side's box.

Villarreal had one back just before the hour, however, when Bakambu converted at the far post after a Denis Suarez effort had been palmed into the 24-year-old's path.

Barcelona should have had their third in the 61st minute when Neymar showed excellent feet to create space inside the box, but Asenjo saved to keep the deficit at one goal.

Villarreal then levelled the scores in the 63rd minute when Soldado's flicked header hit Mathieu and found a route into the bottom corner during a period where Barcelona were all over the place at the back.

Roberto swung his left foot at the ball 20 minutes from time as Barcelona looked to regain the lead, but the Spaniard's effort was wide of the post, before Rakitic had a header kept out by Asenjo.

Rakitic had another excellent chance 10 minutes from time after Asenjo could only palm a cross into the midfielder's path, but his volley was over the crossbar as it remained all square at El Madrigal.

Alves also came close for Barcelona in the latter stages, but Asenjo kept out the Brazilian's strike, before a challenge from Javier Mascherano prevented Adrian from winning it for Villarreal in stoppage time.

Barcelona have now stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 39 matches.