Barca scores five as VAR frustrates Villarreal
Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha both scored twice to help LaLiga leader Barcelona beat Villarreal 5-1, but the visitors missed a penalty and Villarreal also had two goals chalked off for offside.
Barcelona suffered its first defeat of the season when it went down to Monaco in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, but Hansi Flick's team bounced back eventually, despite a nervous opening 20 minutes away from home.
Barca has now won its opening six league matches under Flick to start the season.
Lewandowski found the net twice inside 35 minutes before Villarreal quickly pulled one back through Ayoze Perez.
Villarreal was then denied an equaliser five minutes into the second half when Nicolas Pepe was ruled offside by a whisker as the hosts caught Barcelona on the counter-attack.
Pablo Torre added insult to injury when he made it 3-1 after the break and it could have got worse for the hosts when a penalty was awarded to Barcelona after a VAR review that revealed Lamine Yamal had been fouled in the box.
However, Lewandowski failed to take the opportunity for his hat-trick and slammed the ball against the post.
Villarreal was then denied a goal for a second time when former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly headed home, but again the flag was raised for offside.
Barca captain Raphinha then made it 4-1 when is deflected shot flew into the back of the net, and he netted a cleaner fifth with a volleyed finish from a sensational assist from Yamal to finish off the hosts.
It wasn't all goot news for Flick, though. His already lengthy injury list was extended further when goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was taken off on a stretcher just before half-time after an awkward fall.
The Blaugrana remain top of the standings as they preserved a four-point lead over defending champion Real Madrid in second.
That is now 10 LaLiga wins on the spin for Barca over the course of this season and the end of last. It is its longest such winning streak since 2017, when Lionel Messi was still running the show.
Barca has now scored 23 goals in all competitions this season, a tally bettered only by Bayern Munich (29).
