A late goal from Sandro Ramirez has given Barcelona a narrow 1-0 win over Villarreal in La Liga this evening.
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Lionel Messi tried to set up an early goal for the visitors, feeding the ball through for Pedro, but Sergio Asenjo was ready for the shot.
Victor Ruiz had Villarreal's best chance in the first half as he gathered from a Cani cross, but his final touch was lacking.
Messi came close to opening the scoring himself shortly before the break as he unleashed a curling effort, but his shot went just wide.
The hosts made a bright start to the second half as Denis Cheryshev tried his luck from the edge of the box before Jeremy Mathieu almost turned a Trigueros cross into his own net.
Messi continued to pose a threat for the visitors, almost heading the ball in from an Ivan Rakitic corner before seeing a low shot blocked on the line moments later.
The hosts were denied by the post inside the final 20 minutes when Tomas Pina unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
The miss proved costly as Barcelona finally broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute when Messi slid the ball forward for Sandro to tap in from close range.
The result leaves Barcelona at the top of the table with six points from their first two games of the Spanish season.
Sian Cowper
