Barcelona 10 points behind Madrid after losing 8-goal thriller to Villarreal

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Barcelona's title defence was derailed as Villarreal romped to a sensational 5-3 victory in La Liga on Saturday with three late goals, and coach Xavi Hernandez said he was responsible for the Catalans' defeat.

After Real Madrid moved two points clear of Girona at the top of the league with a late 2-1 win at Las Palmas, the pressure was firmly on Xavi Hernandez's defending champions in third.

In a see-saw match, Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach put Villarreal two goals ahead before Barcelona battled back.

Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri struck before Eric Bailly headed into his own net to give the hosts the lead.

However, Goncalo Guedes fired home in the 84th minute before stoppage-time strikes from Alexander Sorloth and Jose Luis Morales left Barcelona 10 points adrift of rivals Madrid.

"I understand that the players (say) they are responsible, but I am the responsible one," Xavi told DAZN.

"We have to change the dynamic. It makes La Liga very hard for us."

The coach added: "It's a tough blow, the team's morale is very low (but) the club has come out of worse situations."

Alex Baena and Moreno had goals disallowed for Villarreal before the latter broke the deadlock, finishing well from Sorloth's cut-back.

As the players trudged in for half-time, Barcelona were whistled by disgruntled supporters at their temporary home at the Olympic Stadium.

Xavi made a triple change at the break, throwing on Joao Cancelo, Pedri, and 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi.

It fired the team up, but they conceded a foolish second goal after a bad Cancelo mistake allowed Akhomach to gallop in, round Inaki Pena and fire home.

Undeterred, Barcelona fought back.

Gundogan finished superbly from the edge of the box after an hour, Pedri drove home eight minutes later to level and Bailly headed Gundogan's free-kick into his own net.

However, Barcelona's defence - a far cry from the watertight back-line which led them to the title last season - was pulled apart again.

Sorloth fed winger Guedes, who flashed a strike past Pena and into the far corner.

Barcelona were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute when Santi Comesana blocked Gundogan's cross with his elbow, but the referee cancelled it after a VAR review, leaving the hosts furious.

Xavi yelled into a television camera that the decision to revoke the penalty was "a disgrace."

"They will punish me. You analyze it. I don't want to generate more controversy," he later told DAZN.

Worse was to come, with Sorloth finishing from close range to put Villarreal ahead and Morales rubbed salt in the wound with a late fifth with Barcelona in total disarray.

It was Villarreal's first win in five games in all competitions and their coach Marcelino's first ever against Barcelona in 21 matches.

"It's turning out to be a tough season and the fans deserved something like this," said Moreno.