Barcelona 4-1 Villareal: Yamal 28, 37, 69, Lewandowski 90+1; Gueye 49
Barcelona further banished the ghosts of February’s defeats with an emphatic victory against Villareal, but in the end it was all about Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old stole the show at Camp Nou, his first senior hat-trick propelling Barcelona to a commanding 4-1 victory over the high-flying Yellow Submarine.
The win not only ensured La Blaugrana remain atop the La Liga summit but also provided the perfect icing on the cake for manager Hansi Flick, who was taking charge of his 100th game at the club.
The German tactician, honoured pre-match for his milestone, watched his side initially struggle to find their rhythm against a Villarreal side that arrived sitting third. But when the deadlock was finally broken, it was by a moment of individual brilliance from Yamal.
After a quiet opening half-hour, Pape Gueye’s costly lapse in possession deep in Villarreal’s half was pounced upon by the industrious Fermin Lopez. The midfielder instantly fed Yamal, who cut inside and buried a clinical left-footed finish beyond Luiz Junior.
If the first was good, the second, nine minutes later, was even better. Receiving the ball on the right touchline with his back to goal, Yamal collected possession, twisted away from Sergi Cardona, glided past a second defender, and from a seemingly impossible angle on the byline, unleashed a ferocious curling shot that arrowed into the far top corner, leaving Luiz statuesque.
Born for this. pic.twitter.com/zXrU57vSqd
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 28, 2026
Villareal, who had arrived having won three games in four, refused to capitulate. Four minutes after the interval, they clawed their way back into the contest. A corner kick caused chaos in the Barcelona box, and as Raphinha hesitated, the ball fell kindly for Gueye to atone for his earlier error with a neat close-range finish.
Barcelona were walking a tightrope. The visitors nearly equalised when goalkeeper Joan Garcia rushed recklessly from his line on a counterattack, only for Ayoze Perez to spoon his effort wastefully wide of the unguarded net.
The game grew tetchy as it approached the hour mark and Barcelona still had onl a single goal lead. Flick had seen enough and introduced Pedri for Dani Olmo.
The Spanish midfielder was soon decisive when minutes later he carved open the Villarreal defence with a perfectly weighted pass, releasing Yamal. The 18-year-old raced onto the ball and slotted past Luiz from a tight angle to complete his hat-trick, making him the youngest player this century to net a first career hat-trick in La Liga.
There was still time for one more from Barcelona. Jules Kounde squared for substitute Robert Lewandowski to tap into an empty net. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but VAR intervened.
