Barcelona will head into 2026 sitting four points clear at the top of the LaLiga table after a controlled 2-0 win over Villarreal on Sunday evening.
Hansi Flick’s side set the tone early and took the lead when Raphinha won a penalty after being brought down by Santi Comesana inside the box. The Brazilian picked himself up and calmly converted from the spot, giving Barcelona a perfect start and allowing them to manage the tempo for long spells.
Villarreal tried to raise their intensity as the first half went on, but their night turned significantly more difficult shortly before the break. Renato Veiga was shown a straight red card following a reckless challenge on Lamine Yamal, leaving the hosts with 10 men and forcing them into damage-limitation mode.
Barcelona remained patient after the interval, circulating possession and probing for openings against Villarreal’s deeper block. The second goal arrived following a scramble in the penalty area, with Yamal reacting quickest to finish and make it 2-0, effectively ending any realistic hopes of a comeback.
With the advantage secured, Barcelona focused on game management, keeping the ball and limiting Villarreal’s counter-attacking opportunities to see out the result comfortably.
The victory moves Barcelona to 46 points, with Real Madrid on 42 in second place — meaning Barça finish 2025 four points clear at the summit of LaLiga.