Antoine Griezmann gets celebration hug from Lionel Messi as Barcelona leave troubles behind - in pictures

World Cup winner was dropped from last two games but impressed against Villarreal

Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Lionel Messi after scoring against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium. AFP

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Lionel Messi after scoring against Villarreal. AFP

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their third goal with Luis Suarez. Reuters

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi at the Madrigal Stadium. AFP

Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. AFP

Lionel Messi keeps Villarreal's Cameroonian midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa at arm's length. AFP

Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring the second goal. Reuters

Barcelona forward Ansu Fati with defender Jordi Alba after scoring the fourth. AFP

Antoine Griezmann clebrates after his side's first goal, an own goal scored by Pau Francisco of Villarreal. Getty

Antoine Griezmann of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his sides third goal. Getty

Barcelona responded to a trying week by producing a scintillating display to thrash Villarreal 4-1 away and stay alive in La Liga title race.

The Catalans had drawn their last two matches to hand more momentum to league leaders Real Madrid but Sunday's win took them to 73 points after 34 games, four behind their arch-rivals who won 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao earlier in the day.

An own goal from Pau Torres put Barca in front in the third minute, with Villarreal's Gerard Moreno levelling in the 14th minute before the visitors restored their lead through an outstanding curling strike from Luis Suarez six minutes later.

Antoine Griezmann stretched Barca's advantage just before the break with a sublime chip, having been dropped from the starting lineup in the last two games, while 17-year-old Ansu Fati added a fourth in the second half with a low strike.

For Barca defender Gerard Pique, delivering such a slick performance was as satisfying as returning to winning ways.

“It was crucial to get the three points to stay in the hunt but the way we played was important too because that's a part of our identity so we need to keep playing like that until the end of the season," he said.

Barca's confidence was rocked by draws with Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid while the sense of instability at the club deepened amid reports captain Lionel Messi was unhappy with the state of affairs and did not want to stay beyond his contract.

There had been also been plenty of speculation surrounding coach Quique Setien after he had brought Griezmann on in added time against Atletico, a move described in the Spanish media as an act of humiliation against the World Cup-winning forward.

Griezmann was named in the lineup against a Villarreal side who had won five of their last six games and were lively from the start, helping force the opening goal as well as working tirelessly in midfield and combining well with Messi and Suarez.

He capped his performance with a sumptuous goal, receiving a back-heeled lay-off from Messi and coolly delivering a chip that skimmed off the crossbar and into the net.

Messi also produced an outstanding performance but failed to score, having one effort ruled out for offside after a thrilling team move and then hammered the bar with a late free kick.