Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s wingers, scored 2-0 victory over Villarreal on Sunday to move them four points clear of La Liga.
Before half-time for a late lunge on Yamal, Villarreal’s Renato Veiga was sent off for a late penalty that the Brazilian international Raphinha won and converted.
As Hansi Flick’s side restored their lead over Real Madrid, second, and won their eighth consecutive league game, the 18-year-old slotted home Barca’s second midway through the second half.
After winning 3-0 at Girona earlier in the match, Atletico Madrid moved ahead of Villarreal to finish fourth.
Frenkie de Jong, a midfielder for Barca, told DAZN, “We’re happy because we finished the year as leaders, which was our goal, and we can now rest.”
In the end, I believe we were superior, and I wouldn’t say comfortable, but I believe it was a deserved win because Villarreal’s fast players can break quickly and we must do better to do that.
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After being excluded from FIFA’s “Best” team of the year earlier in the week, Flick launched into an emotional defense of Raphinha on Saturday, prompting the winger’s remorsel against his coach.
After La Liga’s plans to bring this game to the United States were scrapped in October, Raphinha produced an all-action display at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica, where the match was played instead of Miami.
Barca struggled in their build-up play and struggled defensively, but Raphinha and Yamal’s wingers Raphinha and Yamal’s outstanding performance and their goalkeeper Joan Garcia’s outstanding performance made the game entertaining.
Ayoze Perez’s shot was blocked by Jules Kounde, who then turned the ball over to Raphinha, who then netted a penalty.
In the 12th minute, the winger confidently won it and almost added the second with a superb effort that crashed back off the bar.
Villarreal fought back when Kounde deflected a cross into his own net, but offside in the build-up prevented the goal.
Veiga’s rash foul,  
After Villarreal’s mistake made it almost level, Barca stopper Garcia saved Tajon Buchanan.
Veiga’s needless red card for a late, ugly lunge on Yamal before the break made the visitors’ job easier.
After a frantic exchange in the box, Yamal scored after 63 minutes to give the champions their second goal.
In their final three games, covering all competitions, Barca finished 2026 with three points and a third clean sheet thanks to Joan Garcia’s stunning saves against Rafa Marin and Georges Mikautadze.
After Andreas Christensen’s diagnosis with a partially torn knee ligament, Kounde suffered a foot injury before the final whistle, which could add to Flick’s back issues.
Barca come into the year better than Real Madrid, who defeated Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday, but still have a lot of issues to worry about.
“We’re doing well, on a good path, we’re leaders, we’re alive in (the other competitions),” De Jong continued. “Now is not the time they’re giving out the trophies.
Villarreal fell to Barca in their first league game away from home all season, but they now trail them by 11 points.
Before taking a vacation, Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo said, “We’re hurt by the outcome, our first home defeat.”
However, “We are proud and satisfied with the team’s work, for how we set up this game… We had so many chances to come away with a half-win.”
Source: Channels TV
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