Raphinha and Yamal Strike as Flick’s Men Seal Seventh Straight Victory
Barcelona maintained their grip on La Liga’s top spot with a hard-fought 2-0 victory away at Villarreal on Sunday, showcasing both resilience and flair to stay four points clear of rivals Real Madrid.
The visitors broke the deadlock early when Raphinha, fouled after a dangerous cut inside, calmly converted a 12th-minute penalty with a deceptive run-up. The Brazilian’s celebration—a raised, linked-hands salute with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal—was a sign of things to come.
That connection paid off again just after the hour mark. Following a frantic scramble in the Villarreal box, Frenkie de Jong teed up Yamal, who made no mistake from close range to double the lead and match his teammate’s league goal tally at seven for the season.
The win, Barcelona’s seventh consecutive across all competitions, did not come without cost or controversy. The Catalans were forced to cope without key defender Andreas Christensen, who suffered a torn ACL in training just a day before the match.
Villarreal’s task grew even harder when defender Renato Veiga was shown a straight red card late in the first half for a heavy, late challenge on the 16-year-old Yamal, who required brief treatment on the pitch.
The result solidifies Hansi Flick’s side at the summit, while Villarreal’s loss saw them overtaken in third place by Atletico Madrid, who secured a 3-0 win at Girona.
Similar Posts:
- Barcelona Thrash Villarreal 5-1 as Ter Stegen Suffers Serious Injury; Atletico Madrid Held by Rayo Vallecano
- Lewandowski Double Propels Barcelona to Dominant 4-0 El Clásico Victory over Real Madrid
- Barcelona Clinch 28th La Liga Title with Dominant Derby Win Over Espanyol
- Title Race Tightens as Madrid’s Stumble Continues in Girona Draw
- Lewandowski’s Double Leads Barcelona to Comeback Victory Over Valencia in Flick’s Debut
