Barcelona secured a vital 2-0 away win against ten-man Villarreal through goals from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal to finish the year four points clear at the summit of La Liga.
Barcelona closed out 2025 with a commanding four-point lead at the top of La Liga following a gritty 2-0 victory over Villarreal.
Despite early defensive lapses and misplaced passes that gifted the hosts several opportunities, the Blaugrana capitalized on a Raphinha penalty to take the lead.
The match shifted significantly when Villarreal’s Renato Veiga received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Lamine Yamal just before the halftime whistle.
The second half saw Hansi Flick introduce Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford to break down a stubborn ten-man low block.
The tactical shift paid off as Frenkie de Jong assisted Lamine Yamal for a decisive second goal following a goalmouth scramble.
Goalkeeper Joan Garcia proved vital in the closing stages, producing several “monster saves” to deny a desperate Villarreal fightback and preserve a clean sheet against a direct title rival.
The victory was slightly dampened by an injury to Jules Kounde, who was forced off with ten minutes remaining.
However, the return of Marc Bernal provided a boost as the youngster showed “intelligence, poise and quality on the ball” during his cameo.
Reflecting on the hard-fought nature of the result, the report noted that “very few teams will pick up all three points away to Villarreal,” cementing Barcelona’s status as winter champions.