Messi wonder goal saves Barca

Barcelona are now five points behind Real Madrid in the La Liga title race, having played a game more, after they drew 1-1 with Villarreal.

They had looked set to resume their league campaign following the winter break with a defeat after Nicola Sansone put the hosts in front five minutes after half time.

But a sublime free kick from Lionel Messi, as the game crept into stoppage time, salvaged a deserved point for Luis Enrique's side in his 150th game in charge.

Barca remain in third, a point behind second-placed Sevilla, while Villarreal stay fifth, just one point adrift of Atletico Madrid.

Lionel Messi scores a wonderful free-kick to bring Barcelona level with Villarreal in the dying minutes of the match at the El Madrigal.

All of that means Real are firmly in control of the championship following their 5-0 win over Granada earlier in the day.

Barcelona had the bulk of possession in the first half and registered the first shot on goal when Andres Iniesta's firm effort was on target but straight at Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.

It was Villarreal, however, who made the better openings and they were often more incisive as they showed good invention coming forward.

After Neymar was also denied for the visitors, Alexandre Pato did well on the left to find Jonathan dos Santos but he lifted his volley just over the bar.

Suddenly Barca were under pressure and it took good lunging tackles from Lucas Digne and Sergio Busquets to keep the score blank.

They tried to respond but Andre Gomes shot over from long range, Neymar went closer from a similar distance and was then kept out from much closer in.

Just before the break, Messi saw a header tipped over and the unusually quiet Luis Suarez was denied when he shot straight at Asenjo.

Barcelona paid for those misses five minutes after the restart when they gave away possession on the edge of Villarreal's box and were punished in ruthless fashion.

Pato collected on the halfway line and played a pass which took out three men, allowing Sansone to stroke the ball across Marc-Andre ter Stegen and in off the far post.

Barcelona should have been level almost instantly as Messi took a quick free kick to Neymar, but he finished like a man who is now without a goal in his last 11 games.

Nevertheless, the visitors laid siege to their opponents' goal and were denied a penalty when Neymar took a tumble. Moments later, another spot kick claim was waved away and this time it looked concrete home captain Bruno tumbled and clearly deflected Messi's shot over with an intentional hand.

Once more, the apparent injustice continued for Barcelona as Bruno once more handled - this time less obviously - and Barca's fury was clear as the stopper was given a foul instead.

Just when it seemed time was ebbing away, Barcelona were thrown a lifeline as they won a free kick 25 yards from goal.

From that, Messi delivered in truly devastating style as he curled in with his left foot off the underside of the bar.

Although Villarreal then had Juame Costa sent off for a second booking, there was no time for a winner from either side - and Barcelona's bid for the title is now a little harder.