In the top game of La Liga, Villarreal missed too many chances against FC Barcelona – and then weakened themselves with an unnecessarily hard foul. The league leaders secured a 2-0 (1-0) victory on matchday 17 thanks to a penalty kick converted by Raphinha (12th minute) and a goal by Lamine Yamal (63rd). Villarreal’s Renato Veiga (39th) saw the red card.
Barca coach Hansi Flick had placed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen back on the bench after his comeback in the cup during the week. Joan Garcia stood for him between the posts.
Raphinha – who had expressed frustration during the week because he had not played a role in the FIFA vote for Footballer of the Year and, to Flick’s incomprehension, had not even made it into the FIFA eleven of the year – also returned to the starting eleven.
Barca’s erratic defense distributes invitations
In the early stages, third-placed FC Barcelona plunged FC Barcelona from one embarrassment to the next – although it was actually the Catalans themselves who got themselves into trouble with simple ball losses and poor positional play. The hosts appeared in the Barca penalty area almost every minute.
Pépé (2nd) headed over after a counterattack, Barca keeper Joan Garcia (5th) made a desperate save from two attackers ready to shoot and Ayoze Perez (7th) needed too much time to process the ball after a high back pass at the five-pointer.
Raphinha was immediately there for Barcelona
Barcelona then showed Villarreal what effectiveness means: On the first advance, Raphinha moved into the penalty area from the right, took Santi Comesana off balance with a flick and then tripped over the defender’s outstretched leg. Penalty. The Brazilian didn’t miss the chance and converted safely down the left to make it 1-0.
Just five minutes later, Raphinha almost added a second goal, but his follow-up shot from a corner hit the crossbar (15′).
Villarreal goal doesn’t count, Veiga sees red
After that it was Villarreal’s turn again. The “Yellows” repeatedly played their way behind the Barca defense in a straightforward and quick manner, thus repeatedly causing danger. When Jules Koundé (17th) directed a Cardona cross into his own goal, it seemed to be the reward for a committed performance. But the goal was disallowed due to offside.
Tajo Buchanan (25th), with a nice volley, and Pépé (31st), who completed a solo shot with a shot onto the crossbar, also failed to get the ball into the Barca goal. For Villarreal coach Marcelino it was hair-tearing on the sidelines. And he probably got even more upset shortly afterwards when Renato Veiga picked up the red card with a completely unnecessary tackle from behind on Yamal.
Barcelona confidently in the majority
That pulled the plug on the previously courageous hosts. In the second half, Barca controlled the game with their confident passing game in the majority. Yamal then made it 2-0 with a goal. The game was over and Barca ultimately secured their seventh competitive win in a row.
In the final phase, Villarreal threw everything forward again and had one or two opportunities, but it was simply not a day for the “yellow submarine” to score goals. At the top of the table, Barcelona (46 points) remains four points ahead of Real Madrid. The new third is Atletico (37 points). Villarreal (35) slips to fourth place.
After the Christmas break, FC Barcelona continues in the new year with the “Derbi Barceloni” at neighboring Espanyol (January 3, 2026, 9 p.m.). Villarreal also have to go to FC Elche on Saturday (6.30 p.m.).