Barcelona drifted five points behind title rivals Real Madrid, who still have a game in handat thetop of La Liga as they managed to rescue a latepoint at theEstadio de la Cerámica against Villarrealcourtesyof Lionel Messi.
The scoring was opened early in thesecondhalf when the hosts crafted a great counter attack goalas Alexandre Pato played inNicola Sansone who slotted home well from a tight angle.
But maestro Messi rescued a point late on for the Catalans with an inch-perfect free kick which he dispatched into the top corner from justoutsidethe area.
Even though Barcelona saw more of the ball early on, it wasVillarreal whocreated the better of the chances.
Their first came when JaumeCosta and AlexandrePato linked well on the left hand side, withthe latter finding JonathanDos Santos at the back post, but the former Barca mancould onlyfire hisvolley over.
Just moments later the visitors were lucky to escape againafterPato shimmied his way into the areaandsquared the ball back toDos Santos, butCataloniansrightbackLucas Dignemade a terrific last-ditchsliding tackle to block a certain goal.
The firsthalffinished with Barcelona on topas Lionel Messi's first attempt on goal forced Andres Sergio Asenjo intoa smart save.
The Villarreal custodian was called intoaction againjustmoments later when the 27-year-old Spaniarddenied LuisSuarez'sfizzing long-rangeshot comfortably.
But it was the hosts who took the lead early in the second after Digne gave the ball away cheaply on the edge of the opposition penalty area and allowed Pato to start a counter attack.
The Brazilian surged towards Marc-Andre ter Stegen's goal before playing a beautifully weighted ball beyond the backtracking Barcelona defence to the onrushing Sansone.
The Italian took the ball into his stride and provided an inch-perfect finish across the poorly positioned German goalkeeper.
However, Villarreal were lucky to keep their lead just minutes after the restart when Messi caught Villarreal's defence napping and played inNeymarfroma quick free kick.
But the out-of-form Brazilian was unable to end his 10-game-drought and provided a simple save for Sergio Asenjo.
Luis Enrique's team should have been awarded a penalty mid-way through the second half afterMessi's shot from the edge of the area was blatantly handledbycaptain Bruno who spread himself infront of goal, but the referee was quick to wave the appeals away.
The Argentine may have thought tonightwas not to be his nightwhen moments laterhislong-rangeeffortflew past stranded SergioAsenjo.But the beautifully struck shotcannonedback out from the post and away from goal.
The referee was surrounded again minutes later after Soriano's shot at the other end wasricocheted away from goal by JavierMascherano's stray hand in the area, but again the referee was reluctant to give anything.
Messi did finally get his moment and showed his classwhen he placed adelicious left-footed free kick into the top left-hand corner past the mannequin ofSergio Asenjo from the edge of the area.
The controversy was not over though as Villarreal defenderCosta received a second booking after yanking down the little Argentine in a breakaway attempt in stoppage time.
The result sees Barcelona stay third andlose more ground on the La Liga title chase.
 #FCB XI:
1. Ter Stegen
3. Piqué
5. Sergio
8. Iniesta
9. Suárez
10. Messi
11. Neymar
14. Mascherano
19. Digne
20. S. Roberto
21. A. Gomes