Barcelona end Villa’s perfect start with 3-0 European win

Barcelona ended Aston Villa’s perfect start to the Champions League with a 3-0 home win on Tuesday, as Lamine Yamal scored early and Raphinha struck twice after half-time. The result helped Barcelona recover from defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European match and kept them in contention for a top-eight league-phase place.

Villa competed well during the first half, but Barcelona’s pressing forced the mistake that gave the hosts a seventh-minute lead. Joao Gomes passed the ball straight to Yamal inside Villa’s box, and the winger finished past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

The goal was Yamal’s 14th in the Champions League, taking him past Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe’s previous record of 13 goals scored as a teenager in the competition.

Villa respond before Raphinha takes control

Villa created chances despite the early setback. Matty Cash had a drive deflected narrowly wide, while Joao Cancelo blocked an attempt from Gomes. The match remained open before Barcelona pulled clear in the second half.

Fermin Lopez set up Raphinha for Barcelona’s second, with the forward finding the bottom corner after quick footwork. Cancelo then supplied a cross with the outside of his boot, allowing Raphinha to score from close range for his 19th goal across all competitions.

Yamal later shot wide as Barcelona looked for a fourth. They instead finished with their first Champions League clean sheet in 19 games, a defensive performance that pleased coach Flick.

“It was important that we defended together very compactly,” Flick said. “The back line played on an amazing level, they defended everything.”

Tributes and the road ahead

The Champions League anthem was not played before the match as a mark of respect for Tenerife striker Jesus De Miguel. He died on Tuesday morning following an on-pitch collision during a Spanish second division match the previous day.

Raphinha dedicated the win to Barcelona’s fans but said his thoughts were with De Miguel’s family. “From the club, I want to send a message of strength to the family,” he told Movistar.

Villa captain John McGinn called the match “a huge learning curve” and said Barcelona had made the right decisions at the right times. Villa remain provisionally third in the league-phase table, despite the defeat ending their perfect start.

Coach Unai Emery said Villa needed to be more ruthless in the attacking third. He felt the 3-0 scoreline was heavier than his side deserved but said they would use what they learned to improve.