Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3–0 at the Camp Nou on 3 November, UEFA's matchday report confirms. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring before Raphinha struck twice after the interval, ending Villa's perfect start to this Champions League campaign.
Yamal's opener and Raphinha's second-half double
Yamal intercepted Emiliano Buendía's misplaced pass and curled his shot into the far corner after seven minutes, according to Barcelona's match report. UEFA says the goal made him the highest-scoring teenager in Champions League history. Villa then threatened on the break, and Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García made several saves to protect the lead. Pedri also cleared Matty Cash's effort off the line.
Barcelona's report says Fermín López found Raphinha for the next goal, with the winger's shot deflecting off Pau Torres and wrong-footing Zion Suzuki. João Cancelo supplied the later cross for Raphinha's close-range finish. UEFA named Raphinha its Player of the Match, while Barcelona said Villa also hit a post through Leon Goretzka before the hosts saw out the game.
The night also carried a sombre note. Barcelona's report says the Champions League anthem was not played before kick-off following the death of Tenerife footballer Jesús de Miguel. After the match, Raphinha declined to discuss the result and paid tribute to him instead.
A defensive response after the Paris defeat
UEFA's 29 October preview said Barcelona had conceded in 18 consecutive Champions League matches, the longest such run in the club's history. SportsRivo compared that pre-match record with UEFA's 3 November account of the shutout against Villa: Barcelona's clean sheet ended the run. The match report describes García's saves and Pedri's clearance as important parts of that outcome.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick emphasised the collective effort in his post-match comments. “It was important to defend together and stay compact,” he said at the club's press conference. Flick also praised García and the young defenders, linking the result to the side's response after recent defeats.
What the result changes
- Barcelona moved level with Villa on nine points in the league phase, according to UEFA's 3 November roundup.
- Villa's first defeat of this Champions League campaign ended its club-record winning run in the competition, UEFA reports.
- Barcelona recorded the clean sheet that had eluded it throughout the run described in UEFA's pre-match preview.
Barcelona's next assignment
Flick's post-match comments identify an away league match against Atlético Madrid on Sunday as Barcelona's next target.
Source: UEFA Champions League roundup