Barcelona, Spain's champions, returned to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, beating visiting Aston Villa 3-0 at the Camp Nou in matchday four of the league phase.
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It was Barcelona's third win in the competition and their first since a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning champions, in the past two seasons. Captain Raphinha scored twice, in the 53rd and 65th minutes, and star Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the seventh minute.
With the win, Barcelona moved up to nine points, provisionally second in the table on goal difference. Aston Villa's perfect run in the competition ended at three straight wins, and they suffered their first defeat.
Before kick-off, the players observed a minute's silence in memory of Jesús de Miguel, a player for Tenerife in Spain's second division, who died after a heavy collision with an opposing goalkeeper on Monday. The Champions League anthem was not played, as a mark of respect for the train crash in Ordia that killed 69 people. Players from both teams also wore black armbands.
Barcelona started strongly and took the lead after seven minutes, when a mix-up between Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and João Gomes allowed Yamal to score from inside the box, finishing into the right corner of the goal.
Despite Barcelona's dominance of possession, Aston Villa were not without chances. Poland's Matty Cash missed a close-range shot in the ninth minute, and Switzerland's Johan Manzambi wasted a clear opportunity in the 19th minute. Joan García then saved another attempt. At the other end, England's Anthony Gordon came close to doubling Barcelona's lead, but Suzuki denied him in the 26th minute.
Barcelona doubled their lead after Raphinha intercepted a well-placed through ball from Fermín López, beat Spanish defender Pau Torres with two quick touches, and drilled the ball into the bottom-right corner of Suzuki's goal in the 52nd minute.
Raphinha struck again in the 64th minute, his second and third goals for Barcelona. He received a precise cross from Portugal's João Cancelo on the left and finished from inside the six-yard box. The goal took his tally to 19 in 13 matches this season.
Source: Al-Ghad.
