Barcelona will head into 2026 with a commanding four-point lead at the summit of LaLiga after a disciplined 2–0 victory over 10-man Villarreal on Sunday evening. Hansi Flick’s side capitalized on early momentum and a first-half red card for the hosts to secure their 46th point of the campaign, keeping rivals Real Madrid at arm’s length as the league enters the festive break.
The breakthrough came just 12 minutes in at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Raphinha, who was later named the official Man of the Match, drew a foul from Santi Comesaña inside the area. The Brazilian winger stepped up to coolly convert the penalty, sending Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Júnior the wrong way.
The complexion of the match shifted dramatically in the 39th minute when Villarreal’s Renato Veiga was shown a straight red card for a reckless two-footed challenge on Lamine Yamal. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Villarreal remained spirited, but Yamal eventually doubled the lead in the 63rd minute.
After a scramble in the box, the 18-year-old pounced on a rebound to sweep home his 21st career LaLiga goal—further cementing his status as one of Europe’s most prolific teenagers.
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