Barcelona 5 Villarreal 1: Philippe Coutinho on target as Barca move within two games of an unbeaten season

BARCELONA swept aside Villarreal to edge closer to their dream of going unbeaten for an entire La Liga season.

The Catalans raced into a three-goal lead thanks to Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho and Lionel Messi.

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And despite Nicola Sansone pulling one back after the break, Barca cruised to their 27th win of the season as Ousmane Dembele scored a late double.

Coutinho will be forced to watch former club Liverpool take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

But managing to go the season without a domestic defeat will go some way to easing the Brazilian's pain.

Champions Barca have a trip to Levante next before they host Real Sociedad on Sunday.

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Coutinho opened the scoring in the 11th minute as Dembele's effort was rebounded into his path.

Paulinho added the second with a close-range finish five minutes later before Messi finished from a superb Andres Iniesta pass.

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Sansone pulled one back but Barca were comfortable and sealed victory with Dembele racing clear to slot home before producing a brilliant lob for 5-0.

Defender Nelson Semedo said: "It's a great victory, it keeps us unbeaten and that's how we want to finish the season."