Villarreal 2-2 Barcelona: Hosts come from behind peg back league leaders

Barcelona stretched their incredible unbeaten run to 39 games in all competitions but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw at Villarreal.

The point moved the Catalan giants nine clear at the top of La Liga, but they will feel like this was two points dropped on the east coast of Spain, having been two goals to the good.

Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring in scrappy fashion, before Barca were gifted a penalty five minutes before half-time, with Villarreal goalkeeper Andres Asenjo adjudged to have fouled Neymar, when it seemed he had won the ball cleanly.

Neymar converted in audacious fashion as El Madrigal vented their anger at the officials, but the league leaders were pegged back in the second half by Cedric Bakambu and Jeremy Mathieu's own goal.

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Neither side could muster a winner in a poorly officiated game, but after Atletico Madrid's slip up on Saturday, Barcelona are one point closer to their sixth league title in eight years.

The visitors looked off colour early on and Villarreal were the width of a post away from a second minute lead, after the ball came off Arda Turan in the box, rebounded off the woodwork and into the grateful arms of Claudio Bravo.

However, somewhat against the run of play, Barcelona did break the deadlock through Ivan Rakitic, but it wasn't the usual eye-pleasing goal.

Lionel Messi floated a free-kick into the middle, the ball was half-cleared, but only as far as the Croatian, who converted through a sea of yellow to give Barca the lead.

Then came the game's talking point. Villarreal boss Marcelino had already been sent to the stands for being overzealous in his protestations, and he would not have been happy to see the referee award Barca a 41st minute penalty, when Asenjo clearly won the ball at the feet of Neymar. Barca players didn't even appeal!

Neymar stepped up and produced a Paneka-style spot-kick to take his side into the break in front, but the momentum soon swung in the hosts' favour after the interval.

On 57 minutes, the hosts did get a belated reward for their endeavours. Former Barcelona youngster Denis Suarez did brilliantly to skip past his man and fire goalwards, Bravo saved well, but could only push the ball into the path of the indefatigable Bakambu, who turned the ball home from a tight angle.

Barca looked ragged following the withdrawal of Gerard Pique, but almost restored their two-goal advantage, as Neymar was denied by an outstanding Asenjo stop.

Marcelino's men had their equaliser soon enough, however, as disaster struck at the back in the 63rd minute, with Bakambu's header from a corner deflecting in off helpless substitute Mathieu.

Rakitic twice came close to winning it for Barca, slicing the best of his two opportunities wide from a good position.

Both sides will feel aggrieved to have come away with only a point for differing reasons, but El Madrigal was certainly treated to thrilling encounter in the Castellon sun.