Barcelona produced a polished Champions League display to hand Unai Emery another miserable night at the Camp Nou, beating Aston Villa 3-0 on Tuesday.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring early before Raphinha, Europe’s most prolific scorer this season with 19 goals in 13 games, struck twice in the second half. The defeat marked Emery’s 55th birthday and extended his dismal record against Barcelona to 15 losses in 16 matches at the ground — a run that includes the famous “Remontada” nine years ago when his PSG side blew a 4-0 first-leg lead.
The evening was meant to be a landmark occasion for Villa, watched by high-profile supporter Prince William, and a reward for the progress made under Emery. Instead, it ended their 100 percent start to the league phase, though they remain well placed to finish in the top eight with several favourable fixtures still to come.
Barcelona’s opener arrived after just seven minutes when a misplaced pass from João Gomes gifted the ball to Yamal, who finished coolly into the corner from 12 yards. Villa responded well and created several clear chances. Matty Cash and Gomes both threatened from corners, Nicolas Jackson twice raced clear only to be denied, and Johan Manzambi dragged a good opportunity wide. Goalkeeper Joan García also made important interventions to keep the hosts ahead.
Those misses proved costly. Twelve minutes into the second half, Fermín López found Raphinha on the edge of the box and the Brazilian’s shot deflected off Pau Torres into the net. The third goal was more clinical: João Cancelo burst past John McGinn and squared for Raphinha to tap in from close range.
Villa continued to push, with Leon Goretzka heading against a post, but Barcelona remained in control. Yamal, who became the highest-scoring teenager in Champions League history, went close twice more as the home side underlined their superiority.