Three hard-fought points against Villarreal for a Barça side under construction

Goals from Antoine Griezmann and Arthur Melo helped Barcelona beat Villarreal 2-1 on Tuesday as Lionel Messi was taken off at half time. 

Griezmann flicked home a Messi corner in the fifth minute and Arthur struck from distance a few minutes later to doubles Barca's lead. 

Santi Cazorla's long-range effort got Villarreal back into the game but Barca hung on as they bounced back from defeat at Granada with three points. 

However, it may have come at a cost, with Messi, making his first start of the season, going off with a groin problem. 

The Argentine was removed as a precaution and it had nothing to do with the calf problem -- which has sidelined him since August -- and Barca will hope it won't rule him out for any length of time. 

Barca, who end the night fourth in the table with 10 points from six games, will hope he's fit for Saturday's tricky trip to Getafe. 

Villarreal had chances to get back into the game, with Marc-Andre ten Stegen making a couple of saves, but Barca also could have pulled clear. 

Luis Suarez wasted several chances, Ousmane Dembele produced some great deliveries after replacing Messi and Ansu Fati once again made an impact off the bench. 

Gerard Pique saw a late free-kick saved by Sergio Asenjo and Griezmann almost added his second of the night in stoppage time but fired just over. 

It wasn't always convincing but it what was needed as Ernesto Valverde's side look to piece their season together after making their worst start to a league campaign in 25 years.