Barca

BARCELONA

Valdes - 5.5 - Nothing special, nothing bad. Clearly not his best game in a Barca shirt but couldn't do much about the goal.

Abidal - 5.5 - Same as above. Looked a little slow when challenged by the Villarreal front men but made up for that with some experience.

Pique - 6 - Solid enough but nothing special. Managed his space well and always looks a threat at set plays.

Puyol - 6.5 - Solid display from an experienced player. Got all over the pitch and filled in where he was needed.

Alves - 6 - Galloped up and down the wing well but missed some obvious signs of danger. Needs to work hard on long and accurate passing plays.

Jonathan - 6 - Did okay on his La Liga debut. Flew around the pitch with enthusiasm and the quality will follow with time.

Xavi - 6.5 - Good passes and ran his space well. Looked frustrated at times but his delivery and final ball was always a threat.

Busquets - 6 - Aggressive and sometimes a little clumsy. Runs around like a headless chicken but this compliments all of the other players around him nicely.

Pedro - 6 - Got about the pitch well and played some nice passes. Needs to work on his quality and be more aware of what's going on around him.

Ibrahimovic - 6.5 - Frustrating. For someone so gifted he really needs to do better when he is in good positions. Missed too many chance tonight.

Henry - 7 - A reminder of old times. Danced well up and down the left when he drifted and still has enough to put defenders on the back foot.

Substitutions

Iniesta - 6 - Immediately brought an aura of authority onto the field with him. His passing and awareness is what Barca lacked but couldn't do enough to get an extra goal.

Bojan - N/A

VILLARREAL

Lopez - 6 - Did well and made a lot of good, niggly little saves. Not a lot he could do about the goal.

Godin - 6 - Held his defensive position well and tackled with good timing. One to keep an eye on for rest of the season.

Venta- 6.5 - Given the hard task of taking on Henry and he did the job very well. Needs a little more quality in play from the back.

Capdevila - 6 - Solid enough but this was not his best game. Looked a little slow when he was forced onto the back foot.

Marcano 5.5 - Relatively quiet but made up for this with his awareness. Doubled up on necessary players and filled in with a second of notice.

Cazorla 6.5 - Brilliant first 45 and was unlucky to eventually be taken off. Full of energy, which makes up for lack of quality at times.

Cani- 6 - Good runs, good passing but always looked as though he was missing an added something, which would have made a difference.

Senna - 6.5 - Solid enough and got stuck into the midfield battle. On another day his delivery could have led to a goal or two.

Bruno - 5.5 - Quiet and a little disappointing. Got about well but lacked quality at vital times in the game.

Nilmar - 6.5 - Ran his socks off for the team and stretched the Barca defence at times, creating space for other players.

Fuster - 7 - Really did well and justified his starting position. Pounced for the goal and will be looking to cement his place in the team.

Substitutions

Rossi - 5 - Could have scored late on with a little glancing header but did not have enough time for a bigger impact.