Barcelona Beat Aston Villa 3-0 in Champions League as Raphinha Scores Twice and Yamal Sets Teenage Record
Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3-0 at a rain-soaked Camp Nou on Tuesday, November 3, in Matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase. Raphinha scored twice in the second half, and Lamine Yamal got an early opener. The win ended Villa's perfect start to the competition and took Barcelona up to second place in the standings. Villa dropped to third after their first defeat of the league phase.
Villa handed Barcelona the lead in the seventh minute. Barcelona pressed very high, and Joao Gomes played a poor pass across his own box. It went straight to Yamal, who happily stroked it past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. It was the 19-year-old's 14th Champions League goal, which makes him the highest-scoring teenager in the competition's history.
Villa did not give up. They had 8 corners to Barcelona's 4 and created some good chances. Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof and Johan Manzambi all had openings, and Nicolas Jackson raced through once more. Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia came off his line to make a vital foot tackle. Villa's missed chances were costly in the end.
Barcelona doubled their lead seven minutes after the break. Fermin Lopez played a precise pass to Raphinha at the edge of the area. His low shot took a deflection off Pau Torres' heel and went in to make it 2-0. Twelve minutes later, in the 64th minute, Joao Cancelo got past John McGinn and crossed for Raphinha, who scored from six yards. Cancelo was named among the stars of the night.
Villa tried to hit back, and Leon Goretzka sent a glancing header against the post. But the hosts stayed in control. Goalkeeper Suzuki made a good save from Anthony Gordon, and later denied Fermin Lopez. Yamal missed two more chances late on. Barcelona had 16 shots to Villa's 9, and 8 of them were on target compared with just one for the visitors. They also had 65 per cent of the possession.
The two goals took Raphinha level with Ronaldinho on 94 goals for Barcelona. It was also the club's first clean sheet in the Champions League in 18 matches.
It was a good response from Hansi Flick's side after defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European game. The win keeps them in the hunt for a top-eight finish in the league phase. For Unai Emery, it was another difficult night at the Camp Nou.