Neymar's recent performances in a Barcelona shirt have been so impressive that his name has been included on the shortlist alongside teammate Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or.

Already this season the Brazilian attacker has found the net on 16 occasions to go alongside the 39 goals that he scored last term to help Barca win a La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble.

However, while the 23-year-old is undeniably a key member of Luis Enrique's team, it did take him a little while to adapt to his new surroundings following his switch from Santos in the summer of 2013.

Neymar fired in 15 goals from his 41 appearances during his debut campaign and having seen their side shell out a reported £50m to secure his services, the Catalan faithful had probably expected a more impressive return.

Nevertheless, there was still more than the odd glimpse of the No.11's undoubted potential, including during a game two years ago today when Neymar was Barca's star man against visiting Villarreal at Camp Nou.

Without their injured talisman Messi, Barca found it tough to break down the Yellow Submarine. But, after Alex Song had seen his early effort crash against the woodwork, the home side were giving a helping hand - literally - in the 30th minute.

Jordi Alba's volleyed cross from the left wing clearly struck Villarreal full-back Mario's right hand, leaving the referee little option but to award a penalty. Neymar took on the responsibility and he duly rolled the ball to Sergio Asenjo's right, while the goalkeeper had gambled on the Barca player going straight down the middle.

Teams that fall behind in Barcelona's own backyard often crumble, yet Villarreal had other ideas. The floodgates did not open, in fact, quite the opposite.

Three minutes after the restart Mateo Musacchio got the better of his marker Marc Bartra and the away side's defender powered an unstoppable header into the roof of Pinto's net.

Barca's response to the equaliser was to produce a string of patient attacks and their persistence was eventually rewarded in the 68th minute thanks to Neymar, who scored his fifth goal of the week following his hat-trick last time out against Celtic in the Champions League.

Cesc Fabregas split the Villarreal defence with a lofted pass into the area for Alexis Sanchez. A shot looked on for the Chilean, but instead he committed Asenjo off his line and then rolled the ball into Neymar's path for a simple finish.

It was the moment that sealed all three points for Barca and also secured their 23rd successive home league win - a run that dated back to October 2012.

Speaking after the final whistle, Barca defender Bartra said of Neymar: "It seemed as though he wasn't scoring but he's found himself in these last couple of matches."

Barcelona: Pinto; Montoya, Bartra, Pique, Alba; Song (Xavi), Busquets; Iniesta, Fabregas (Roberto), Sanchez (Pedro); Neymar

Villarreal: Asenjo; Mario, Musacchio, Dorado, Costa; Pina, Ramos (Uche), Aquino (Pereira); Trigueros, Perez (Jokic), Giovani