Don't know if there will be a more exhilarating and tension filled match this midweek across Europe's top five leagues than the one between a resilient Villarreal side and the defending Champions Barcelona. Sometimes you just wonder how a game of football can be upturned in few seconds. Don't know, but I feel the game can go for Laliga's most dramatic match this season.

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A match that saw the Catalan giants losing by two goals lead against Villarreal, and just few minutes to go, boom! It happened and the game finally ended in a 4-4 thriller. Barcelona just have a way of maintaining their dreadful nature come what may, and their display against Villarreal yesternight goes to tell why they are one of the mosr revered and feared club in the World.

Even without the likes of Lionel Messi, Rakitic and Gerard Pique on the bench, Barcelona started off in a flying colour and many may have thought it was gonna be a rollercoaster ride for Ernesto Valverde's side. However, as the game continued to gather momentum, the home side had their plans and it wasn't too long before they started cutting the ground from under Barcelona's feet.

Some say real men or warriors are known in times of surprising events, and Barcelona had to prove their mettle on Tuesday night to send fear into the Manchester United Camp ahead of their Champions League clash. For me, the Spanish defending champions are my most inspiring team of the week. After leading 2-0, they threw their lead away and had to fight back from a 4-2 deficit to share the points at the dying minute.

Who would have believed that relegation threatening team like Villarreal will prove a hard but for the Catalan giants, but football never stops leaving you with goose bumps. Don't even tell me you were not entertained. Having witnessed the Yellow Submarine lose 2-0 against Celta Vigo during the weekend, the Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde knew their host will be a tough mountain for Barcelona to climb. They were armed to the teeth and were determined to stun the world in a night very few would expect. “In the final games of the season the teams at the bottom always take a lot of points,” explained Valverde. “They’re all going to do everything they can and we must be prepared for these type of games.”

Despite Valverde's suspicions ahead of the clash with Villarreal, he still went on to take the risk (a necessary risk though). Resting the likes of Lionel Messi who is the heartbeat of Barcelona's attack. Also being benched or rather rested was Pique who is also the skeletal frame and the most experienced in the defense. Rakitic didn't start either, so Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal took charge of the midfield. But wait, which would have been better? I was thinking he should have launched his full squad against Villarreal and secure the win.

Now that they shared points, the team will have to fight hard against a tough Diego Simeone's side that are still undergoing their Champions league pains. So they have fallen back on the league to vent their frustrations on any team that crosses their path. With Champions league clash against Manchester United in view, I just hope the Athletico Madrid match won't occasion injuries or fatigue on the team. If you ask me, I would say the conquering Europe is Barcelona's top most priority, the league can always be won. At least I know that has been Messi's mission since the beginning of this season.

Well, Messi wasn't starting this time and for anyone that enjoys tension filled game, you will agree with me that it's always interesting to see Barcelona play below their standards. Yeah, that way, the game is a bit more open for either of the teams to win and that makes it all fun. I think the clash against Villarreal is a good example of such games and I enjoyed a big deal of it. I know that when Villarreal saw the team list of Barcelona, they must have smiled knowing that anything could be taken from a Messi-less Barcelona team. Even with two goals down, they were far from throwing in the towel, and it took the intervention of the magician for the visitors to salvage a dying minute point.

It all started with Malcolm operating from the right flank and was all shades of form, assisting an embattled Philippe Coutinho to put Barcelona one goal up. It didn't take long for the Chilean Vidal to connect with the head of Malcolm after am awesome cross from the same right flank, and boom! The visitors were 2-0 up. I must commend Malcolm's outing yesterday night, he was the spot light and Villarreal's biggest nightmare before the introduction of Messi. He is fast becoming Valverde's secret weapon and his patience shows he is ready to learn and grow.

However, they was something that kept Villarreal fired up, not necessarily the hunger to win a big gun like Barcelona, but their survival in the league, as relegation stares boldly into their faces. They refused to retreat into the dark, came all out and shook the very foundation of dominance that Barcelona stood upon. Strikes from Chukwueze, Ekambi, Iborra and Carlos Barca turned the table of the game into something non of us saw coming.

If there was anything Villarreal prayed against, it was the sight of Messi, but their prayers will have to be answered some other time. With the dragon slayer introduced, the atmosphere started swinging towards him and it was just a matter of time before he swung his magic wand. A late free kick from Messi and dying minute masterful strike from Suarez saw the game end 4-4 to the bewilderment of everyone. When next you wonder why Barcelona is adjudged the best team in the world, look back at this game.