Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory away to Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica, extending their La Liga lead.
Raphinha opened the scoring with a confidently taken penalty in the 12th minute after winning the foul himself.
Lamine Yamal doubled the advantage in the 63rd minute with a fine finish. Villarreal’s task became harder when Renato Veiga received a red card, leaving them with 10 men for much of the second half.
Despite dominating possession, Barcelona were not always clinical, but the win showcased their resilience and ability to capitalise on key moments in a challenging away fixture.
Here are the Barcelona player ratings:
Joan García (8.5/10)
Made several crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet despite Villarreal’s dangerous counters.
Commanded his area well and provided stability when Barcelona were exposed on transitions.
Jules Koundé (7/10)
Solid and composed at right-back, contributing to the defensive solidity.
Occasional forward runs added balance, but focused mainly on keeping threats quiet.
Pau Cubarsí (7.5/10)
Impressive maturity in central defense, winning key duels, and reading the game expertly.
Helped maintain the clean sheet against a tricky Villarreal attack.
Gerard Martín (7/10)
Reliable on the left side of defense, handling wide threats effectively.
Supported attacks when possible while staying disciplined positionally.
Alejandro Balde (7/10)
Provided width on the left flank with overlapping runs and solid defending.
His energy helped Barcelona control possession spells.
Eric García (7/10)
Anchored the double pivot adequately but occasionally struggled with tempo in midfield.
Distribution was safe but lacked the incisiveness needed against a compact side.
Frenkie de Jong (8/10)
The standout in midfield, dictating play with excellent passing and composure.
Broke lines effectively and shielded the defense superbly throughout.
Fermín López (6.5/10)
Added energy in the attacking midfield role, but influence was limited.
Worked hard off the ball but couldn’t unlock the Villarreal low block consistently.
Lamine Yamal (8/10)
Constant menace on the right, drawing fouls (including the red card incident), and scoring the second goal.
His dribbling and vision created problems for the home defense.
Raphinha (8.5/10)
Won and converted the decisive early penalty with ice-cold nerves.
His directness and threat from the left were key in a game of few chances.
Ferran Torres (6.5/10)
Led the line with effort but lacked service and sharpness in front of the goal.
Held the ball up decently but had a quiet afternoon overall in attack.
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