Barcelona's Memphis Depay celebrates scoring against Villarreal on November 27, 2021 in Villarreal, Spain. Photo: VCG

Barcelona notched their first away win in La Liga this season in Xavi Hernandez's first away game in charge as late goals from Memphis Depay and Philippe Coutinho secured a 3-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday.

Barca had gone five away matches in the league without a win but Xavi had the magic touch, with the 41-year-old overseeing his second victory out of two in La Liga, either side of a midweek goalless draw at home to Benfica in the Champions League.

The score at La Ceramica flattered Barca, who could easily have lost a frantic game in which Villarreal spurned a number of excellent chances, only to commit a dreadful mistake at the back that allowed Depay to score in the 88th minute.

Coutinho added a third from the penalty spot in injury time after Samuel Chukwueze had earlier canceled out Frenkie de Jong's opener early in the second half.

"It was the game we dominated the least, but we won," said Xavi. "On Tuesday we deserved to win and we drew, today it could have been a draw, and we got the win. It's a tremendous victory for us."

In a frantic opening nine minutes, Barcelona hit the post twice while Villarreal were gifted a golden opportunity as Abde Ezzalzouli's header was tipped onto the crossbar by Geronimo Rulli before Gavi's drive brushed the outside of the far post. 

The chances kept coming for both teams as Depay scuffed wide after being slid through by De Jong before Yeremy Pino and Pau Torres both headed over when left free in the box, Torres from five yards out.

Villarreal were rampant down Barcelona's right-hand side and finished the first half the stronger.

But Barca survived and took the lead three minutes after the restart, Jordi Alba volleying Abde's cross back in for De Jong to tap home after Depay's initial finish was saved.

Alba went off injured, replaced by Oscar Mingueza, and Villarreal continued to stretch Barcelona, who never looked in control of their lead.

They could not even keep hold of a throw-in, Villarreal regaining possession and hooking the ball toward the penalty area, where Chukwueze nipped in ahead of Mingueza and poked into the corner.

Villarreal fancied a winner as Manu Trigueros twice went close and then Arnaut Danjuma shot just wide of the post after a weaving run in from the left.

Instead, it was Barcelona who struck after capitalizing on a Villarreal mix-up at the back.

Pervis Estupinan flicked Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen's punt toward his own goal and Raul Albiol slipped as Depay darted through, rounded the goalkeeper and finished through the legs of Estupinan on the line.

Disheartened, Villarreal conceded a third in added time as Juan Foyth hacked down Coutinho, who planted the penalty into the bottom corner.