FT: Barcelona 3-5 Villarreal, Barcelona Stumble to SHOCK Defeat [VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS]

Barcelona suffered a shock home defeat to Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday to tank up pressure on the club’s manager Xavi.

A nearly-barren game in the first half turned to a seven-goal thriller in the final minutes with Barcelona crashing helplessly under Villarreal’s potent firing arsenal at the Estadio Olimpico.

As expected, Barcelona were on the ascendancy going forward as the game kicked off. Villarreal dropped down their half to curtail offensives while waiting to pounce on the hosts with quick counters.

In the 41st minute, Moreno did the magic for the away side, scoring to send them into the break with a lead.

Against the run of play in the second half, Barcelona conceded again with a goal from Akhomach in the 54th minute.

With a second consecutive defeat looming for the Culers, Xavi needed a flash moment of magic to convert their dominant display into chances.

IIkay Gundogan scored the lifeline goal for the home side at the hour mark to set the stage for a possible comeback. Eight minutes after Gundogan’s strike, Pedri came up clutch for the Culers, scoring to restore parity.

In a magical turn of events, three straight goals by Barcelona overturned the game for the hosts. Returning star and former Man United defender Eric Bailly’s own goal raced the home side into the lead.

However, a dogged Villarreal side refused to blink as they fought back to level terms, thanks to Guerde’s 84th-minute goal.

Barcelona would have at least escaped with a point save a late defensive blunder that saw Villarreal strike twice in three minutes to bundle the Culers in style in front of their home fans.

Sorloth and Morales were the nightmares. The pair scored in 90+9th and 90+12th minute to condemn Barcelona to a defeat and hand Villarreal all three points.

WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS HERE