Leo Messi scored an 89th-minute free-kick to rescue a point for Barcelona against Villarreal in the Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday. The 1-1 draw leaves Luis Enrique's team five points behind Real Madrid having played a game more in Primera Division. Villarreal took the lead on 50 minutes after Lucas Digne gave the ball away high up the pitch and a rapid counter-attack ended with Nicola Sansone applying the finishing touch at the far post to Alexandre Pato's pass. But Messi scored with a set-piece with a minute of normal time remaining. It was the 30th free-kick goal of his career. Villarreal were reduced to 10 men in injury time when Jaume Costa was sent off for a second yellow card offence but they held on for a deserved point. Barcelona felt hard done by after match referee Ignacio Iglesias had failed to spot a handball from Bruno Soriano in the penalty area that diverted a Messi shot over the bar. But for much of the game they looked a shadow of the side that has won the last two Liga titles, and now find themselves relying on Real Madrid dropping points if they are to catch them at the top of the table. Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique said: "I think we deserved the three points. But we are on a negative run. "Villarreal are a team who know what they are doing both with and without the ball, that is why they are they have conceded the fewest goals in La Liga. "We are going to have to do more to win games but I can't fault my players; I think we deserved the three points." Asked about being five points off the pace at the top, he added: "It's clear that winning the league is now not just down to us. "But we are not at the halfway point yet and we have to keep playing this way but with a different end result." Gerard Pique did not accept the draw as calmly as his coach. The defender appeared to shout up at the president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, as he left the pitch. In reference to two penalties he felt his team should have been awarded in the second half he appeared to shout: "Did you see that? Yes, you, you!" in the direction of the directors box where Tebas was watching the game. The League president was a guest of honour because Villarreal were inaugurating a new name for their Estadio de la Ceramica, previously known as El Madrigal. Pique added after the game: "Today there were two clear handballs against us that were not given." Asked if he feared being punished for his apparent outburst he replied: "Let them analyze it. I still think exactly the same and every week I'm proved right." Opposing coach Villarreal coach Fran Escriba refused to comment on the referee's decisions. He said: "I am very proud of my players. Barcelona dominated but we expected that and they did not have so many chances so I am very satisfied with the game." The result left Barcelona in third place behind Sevilla in second. Villarreal remain fifth a point behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid. Earlier Celta Vigo ruined Marcelo Romero's first game in charge of Malaga by beating them 3-1, Betis were 2-0 winners against Leganes, and Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 with Alaves. Valencia visit Osasuna on Monday to complete this round of fixtures.
