Raphinha and Lamine Yamal fired Barcelona to a 2-0 win over 10-man Villarreal, putting the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga on Sunday.
Brazil international Raphinha won and converted an early penalty, before Villarreal’s Renato Veiga was sent off for a late lunge on 18-year-old Yamal just before halftime. Yamal then scored Barcelona’s second midway through the second half, as Hansi Flick’s side extended their winning run to eight league games.
The victory restored Barcelona’s advantage over second-placed Real Madrid. Villarreal dropped to fourth after Atletico Madrid moved ahead with a 3-0 win at Girona earlier in the day.
“We’re happy because we finish the year as leaders, which was our objective, and now we can rest,” Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong told DAZN. “Villarreal have fast players who break rapidly, and we have to manage that a bit better… But in the end, I think we were superior. It was a deserved win.”
Flick had defended Raphinha earlier in the week after the winger was excluded from FIFA’s ‘The Best’ team of the year, and the Brazilian repaid his coach with a dominant performance at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica. The match had been scheduled for Miami, but La Liga scrapped plans to stage it in the United States in October.
Despite some defensive struggles and a lack of fluency in build-up play, Barcelona were propelled to victory by the quality of their wingers and the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Jules Kounde blocked Villarreal striker Ayoze Perez’s early attempt before Raphinha drew a foul from Santi Comesana to win a penalty in the 12th minute, which he calmly converted. Raphinha nearly doubled the lead with a long-range strike that hit the bar, while Kounde deflected a Villarreal cross into his own net, though the goal was ruled out for offside.
Villarreal nearly equalised after a mistake from Alejandro Balde, but Garcia made a stunning save from Tajon Buchanan. The visitors’ task was further complicated when Veiga received a red card for a reckless lunge on Yamal just before the break.
Barcelona sealed the win after a scramble in the box, with De Jong setting up Yamal to fire home in the 63rd minute. Garcia later produced key saves to deny Rafa Marin and Georges Mikautadze, helping Barcelona keep a third clean sheet in their last three games across all competitions.
Kounde was forced off injured late in the game, adding to Flick’s defensive concerns following Andreas Christensen’s partial knee ligament tear.
“Now’s not the time they’re giving out the trophies, but we’re doing well, on a good path. We’re leaders, we’re alive in the other competitions, so we’re happy,” added De Jong.
Villarreal suffered their first home league defeat of the season, trailing Barcelona by 11 points, though they have two games in hand. “We’re hurt by the result, our first home defeat, right before we go on holiday,” said Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo. “But we are proud and happy with the team’s work… We had so many chances to go in at half-time winning.”
AFP
