Barca beat Villarreal, Madrid draw at Osasuna
Barcelona beat Villarreal 2-1 to gain five-point lead in the Spanish league.
BARCELONA (AP) - Neymar scored twice to help Barcelona beat Villarreal 2-1 and take advantage of Real Madrid's slip as it opened up a five-point lead over its fierce rival at the top of the Spanish league.
Third-place Madrid fell behind and settled for a 2-2 draw earlier at Osasuna in a match both sides finished with 10 men, and Barcelona didn't let the chance escape.
Barcelona, still without the injured Lionel Messi, again turned to Neymar after his hat trick against Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday to convert a penalty on the half-hour mark and restore the lead in the 68th after Villarreal leveled.
Barcelona's eighth win in as many league games at Camp Nou provisionally lifted it three points clear of Atletico Madrid before it hosts Valencia on Sunday.
