Lamine Yamal scored the decisive second goal as Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over 10-man Villarreal at Estadio de la Cerámica on December 21, 2025, restoring their four-point lead at the top of La Liga ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a confidently converted penalty after being fouled in the box. The match swung further in Barcelona's favor when Villarreal's Renato Veiga received a straight red card in the 39th minute for a reckless challenge on Yamal, who required brief treatment but continued to influence the game.
Yamal sealed the win in the 63rd minute, calmly finishing from close range after a goalmouth scramble, assisted by Frenkie de Jong. The 18-year-old's strike marked his seventh La Liga goal of the season and ninth in all competitions, underscoring his growing importance to Hansi Flick's side.
Despite Villarreal's resilient performance and several threatening moments, Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García produced outstanding saves to preserve a clean sheet. The result extends Barcelona's La Liga winning streak to eight matches and marks a strong end to their 2025 campaign.
"This was a tough away game, but the team showed character," said coach Hansi Flick. Villarreal remain in contention in the upper half of the table despite the setback.
Barcelona now head into the new year firmly in control of the title race.
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