Yamal and Raphinha Fire Barcelona to 3-0 Win Over Aston Villa

Barcelona ended Aston Villa’s perfect Champions League start on Tuesday, cruising to a 3-0 victory at home with Lamine Yamal opening the scoring and Raphinha adding a double.

Villa had arrived with nine points from three games and the competition’s best goal difference, but they were outplayed by a Barcelona side that moved up to nine points of their own with the win.

The result is a major statement from the Spanish champions in the race for the top eight — and a first league-phase defeat of the season for Unai Emery’s high-flying Villa.

Villa’s bubble bursts

Three wins from three had Villa second in the table, but Barcelona exposed the gap to Europe’s elite on a night when the visitors rarely threatened.

Top-eight race tightens

With six teams now sitting on nine points behind leaders PSG, the fight for automatic qualification into the last 16 is wide open.

Source: UEFA / Reuters