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Yamal strikes as Barcelona tighten grip on La Liga summit

Barcelona strengthened their hold on top spot in La Liga with an away win over Villarreal, restoring a four-point lead over Real Madrid and extending their league winning run to eight matches.

Despite not being at their fluent best in the early exchanges, Hansi Flick’s side executed the key moments efficiently to secure maximum points at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

Raphinacapitalises as Villarreal rue missed chances

Villarreal started aggressively and created several early openings, but their failure to convert proved costly.

Against the run of play, Barcelona struck first in the 12th minute when Raphinha calmly converted a penalty after being brought down by Santi Comesana.

The hosts continued to threaten, with Nicolas Pepe and Ayoze Pérez both spurning opportunities, while Raphinha came close to doubling Barca’s lead by rattling the crossbar from distance.

Yamal strikes as Barcelona tighten grip on La Liga summit
Yamal delivered the decisive blow to help Barcelona tighten their grip of La Liga top spot – Getty image

Red card shifts momentum decisively

The match tilted firmly in Barcelona’s favour in the 39th minute when Renato Veiga was sent off for a rash challenge on Lamine Yamal.

 

Villarreal briefly thought they had equalised before the break, but Jules Koundé’s own goal was ruled out for offside, compounding the hosts’ frustration.

 

Yamal seals routine victory

With the numerical advantage, Barcelona controlled the tempo after the interval. Yamal delivered the decisive blow in the 63rd minute, reacting quickest to a scramble in the box to poke home his ninth goal of the season.

From there, Barcelona managed the game professionally, limiting Villarreal’s threat and seeing out the contest without alarm.

The result keeps Barcelona firmly in control of the title race heading into the winter break. They return to action against Espanyol on January 3, while Villarreal travel to Elche later the same day.

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Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona: Estevao delivers statement performance in brutal Champions League routing

Chelsea executed a high-impact, confidence-building demolition of Barcelona on Tuesday night Champions League, setting a strong tone ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.

In a contest stripped of real jeopardy by the bloated league-stage format, the Blues still treated it like a marquee occasion, dominating from start to finish and showing a level of operational efficiency Barcelona simply couldn’t match.

Despite having three goals ruled out, Chelsea overwhelmed the Spanish champions, who were undone by their own errors and the brilliance of 18-year-old Estevao.

The Brazilian delivered a decisive second-half strike and outshone his hyped counterpart, Lamine Yamal, who endured a torrid evening on and off the pitch.

Chelsea take control as Barcelona implode

The evening’s turning point came courtesy of Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo, whose reckless two bookings before the interval crippled his side.

Already trailing to a Jules Kounde own goal, Barca’s discipline collapsed, handing Chelsea full command of the match.

Estevao, previously most effective from the bench, showed maturity beyond his years, repeatedly stretching Barcelona’s structure and dictating tempo on the flank.

His goal, a blistering near-post finish after outmuscling Pau Cubarsi and slipping ahead of Alejandro Balde, validated the hype surrounding him.

Liam Delap later added a composed third, securing his first Champions League goal after a successful VAR review.

Chelsea’s tally of three disallowed goals showed their territorial dominance. Fernandez twice put the ball in the net only to see both wiped out, and Santos suffered a similar fate just moments before Estevao’s breakthrough.

Barcelona outgunned, outpaced, and outthought

Hansi Flick’s side struggled to maintain coherence throughout. Defensive misalignments, porous midfield spacing, and an erratic press made them easy prey for Chelsea’s vertical transitions.

Yamal’s withdrawal late on, amid mocking chants from the home crowd, summed up Barca’s night.

Chelsea, meanwhile, showed depth and tactical flexibility. Enzo Maresca’s decision to deploy Pedro Neto as a false nine facilitated fluid rotations that constantly disrupted Barcelona’s defensive reference points.

Cucurella, Garnacho, James, and Santos all contributed high-impact moments, while Robert Sanchez survived a shaky early moment to settle well.

Momentum for Arsenal clash

Chelsea’s six-point gap to Arsenal remains, but the strategic value of this performance is undeniable.

Sunday presents another test when they face Arsenal in a title race encounter.

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LaLiga: Rashford shines as Barcelona return to form with win over Elche

Marcus Rashford was on target as Barcelona bounced back from their El Clasico defeat with a 3-1 victory over Elche at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc.

Hansi Flick’s side made their intentions clear early on, taking control of the game from the first whistle. On nine minutes, Lamine Yamal broke the deadlock scoring a composed finish inside the area after a neat pass from Alejandro Balde.

Early double advantage

Just two minutes later, Ferran Torres doubled Barcelona’s lead, tapping in from close range after Fermin Lopez punished a defensive lapse from Elche.

The visitors, however, pulled one back before the break through Rafa Mir, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and curl a fine effort beyond Wojciech Szczesny.

Rashford’s thunderbolt restores control

Barcelona regained a comfortable lead in the 60th minute when Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, unleashed a thunderous strike that rattled in off the woodwork.

Flick gets key players back

Manager Flick introduced Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski late on, marking their return from injury. Elche pressed in the closing stages, with Mir striking the crossbar, but Barcelona held firm to secure all three points.

The victory lifts Barcelona back to second place in La Liga, five points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, as they turn their focus to Club Brugge in Wednesday’s Champions League clash.

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El Clásico: Real Madrid edge Barcelona in high-intensity clash at Bernabéu

Real Madrid came out on top in a dramatic El Clásico encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu, edging Barcelona 2-1 in a game filled with VAR controversy and end-to-end football.

Mbappé and Bellingham strike, but Barcelona hit back

The match kicked off at a frantic pace, with Real Madrid thought to have taken an early lead through Kylian Mbappé in the 12th minute, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside.

Madrid eventually broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Mbappé latched onto Jude Bellingham’s through ball and slotted calmly past Wojciech Szczęsny.

Barcelona responded mintues later, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Balde combining brilliantly down the left.

Their move set up Fermín López, who drilled home a low finish in the 38th minute to level the score before halftime.

Penalty drama and late pressure

The second half delivered its fair share of controversy when Real Madrid were awarded a penalty after a handball by Eric García.

However, Kylian Mbappé’s spot-kick was superbly saved by Szczęsny to keep Barcelona in the game.

Meanwhile, Hansi Flick’s men buoyed by their possession, stayed composed and continued to press high, denying Madrid the freedom to play through midfield.

Substitute Ronald Araújo made key interventions to keep Mbappé and Rodrygo quiet, while young Lamine Yamal’s energy on the wing troubled Madrid’s backline.

Barcelona pushed hard in the closing stages, with Courtois forced into several saves to keep them alive. Yet, Real Madrid’s resilience held firm as they saw out the win to secure a vital three points in the title race.

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UCL: Fermin Lopez, Rashford fire Barcelona to 6-1 rout over Olympiacos

Fermin Lopez stole the show with a superb hat-trick as Barcelona demolished Olympiacos 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

Marcus Rashford added two goals of his own as Hansi Flick’s men produced a ruthless second-half display at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

 

Early control and Fermin’s double brilliance

 

Barcelona took charge from the first whistle, carving Olympiacos open with slick movement and quick passing.

Rashford narrowly missed with a volley inside five minutes, but the breakthrough came soon after when Fermin smashed home following an electrifying run from Lamine Yamal.

The 21-year-old midfielder doubled his tally before halftime, calmly finishing from a precise Dro Fernandez assist after sitting down his marker inside the box.

Olympiacos fight back cut short by red card

The visitors found a lifeline early in the second half when Ayoub El Kaabi scored from the spot after Eric Garcia’s handball.

 

But their momentum vanished when Santiago Hezze was controversially shown a second yellow card for minimal contact on Marc Casado, an incident that left Olympiacos furious.

 

Barcelona run riot after the break

With the Greek side down to ten men, Barca turned on the style. Rashford earned a penalty that Yamal confidently dispatched before the Manchester United loanee got on the scoresheet himself with a clinical strike inside the area.

Fermin completed his hat-trick, unleashing a fierce volley, before Rashford added a sixth from distance to cap off a dominant performance.

The comprehensive win provided Barcelona with a timely confidence boost ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico showdown with Real Madrid.

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Guardiola: Haaland “not stupid enough” to leave Manchester City for Barca

Pep Guardiola has dismissed rumours linking Erling Haaland with a move to Barcelona, insisting the prolific striker is “not stupid enough” to consider leaving Manchester City after penning a 10-year contract extension.

Haaland, who has already scored 11 goals in eight games this season, recently committed his long-term future to the Premier League champions.

Reports in Spain had claimed Barcelona president Joan Laporta was targeting the 25-year-old as part of his re-election campaign, but Guardiola was quick to ridicule the speculation.

“He Isn’t stupid enough” – Guardiola

Speaking ahead of City’s weekend fixture, Guardiola said Haaland’s decision to stay reflected his ambition and intelligence.

“I think Erling isn’t stupid enough to sign something he doesn’t want to accomplish, that is for sure,” he said.

“But it’s football, who knows what will happen? Nobody knows. What I do know is that he has a long contract here, and he’s doing really well and scoring a lot of goals.”

The Spanish manager, who spent four years managing Barcelona, admitted he understood why his former club would be interested in a player of Haaland’s calibre.

“Every club dreams of Haaland”

Guardiola added that Laporta’s admiration for Haaland was only natural, given the Norwegian’s extraordinary impact.

“Can you tell me one club that wouldn’t dream of Erling Haaland?” he asked.

“I understand Barcelona dream of him, and so would every club in the world. If he weren’t with us, it would be a dream for Manchester City to have him.”

The 53-year-old praised Haaland’s integration into the team, crediting his teammates for creating the opportunities that allow him to shine.

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La Liga: Sevilla humiliate Barcelona 4-1

Barcelona suffered their first La Liga defeat of the season in humiliating fashion as Sevilla cruised to a 4-1 victory in Andalusia on Sunday.

Araujo’s error sparks Sevilla’s dominance

Ronald Araujo’s foul on Isaac Romero inside the box gifted Sevilla an early breakthrough, confirmed after a VAR review.

Former Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez converted from the spot to make it 1-0. Romero then doubled the lead ten minutes before halftime, finishing a precise pass from Ruben Vargas after missing two earlier chances.

Rashford offers hope, Lewandowski falters

Marcus Rashford briefly gave Barcelona hope with his first La Liga goal from a superb Pedri cross just before the break.

However, Robert Lewandowski wasted a golden chance to equalise in the 76th minute, sending his penalty wide after Alejandro Balde was fouled.

Sevilla seal the rout late on

Jose Angel Carmona’s finish and Akor Adams’ stoppage-time strike completed a dominant display for Sevilla, sending the home crowd into raptures.

The defeat marks back-to-back losses for Hansi Flick’s side after their Champions League setback against PSG.

Barcelona remain second on the table, while Sevilla climb to fourth after their famous victory.

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Barcelona stunned as PSG snatch late Champions League win

Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season as Paris Saint-Germain secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory in their Champions League clash at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night.

The Catalans took an early lead through Ferran Torres but failed to build on their dominance, allowing Luis Enrique’s depleted PSG side to fight back and claim all three points courtesy of a late strike from Gonçalo Ramos.

Barcelona start strong but fail to capitalise

Barcelona began on the front foot, with Lamine Yamal pulling the strings in attack.

After Torres squandered a golden opportunity from Yamal’s superb trivela pass, the forward quickly redeemed himself by tapping home Marcus Rashford’s cross to open the scoring.

However, PSG responded well and levelled before half-time. Nuno Mendes drove through midfield before setting up 18-year-old Senny Mayulu, who fired past Wojciech Szczesny to make it 1-1 in the 39th minute.

Missed chances prove costly

The home side pushed to restore their advantage after the break and nearly did so when Dani Olmo’s close-range effort was cleared off the line by Achraf Hakimi.

Barcelona were left frustrated again as PSG created openings of their own, with Lee Kang-in hitting the post after a dazzling solo run.

Ramos delivers late blow

PSG’s persistence paid off in the final moments. Substitute Gonçalo Ramos struck in the 90th minute to complete the turnaround and hand the reigning champions a vital away victory.

Barcelona will be disappointed at squandering their lead, particularly against a PSG side missing key players including Marquinhos, Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé.

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Lewandowski seals Barcelona comeback win against Real Sociedad

Barcelona defeated Real Sociedad 2-1 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to maintain their push for the La Liga title.

Alvaro Odriozola gave Sociedad the lead in the first half, but goals from Jules Kounde and Robert Lewandowski turned the match in favour of the home side.

 

Sociedad strike first

 

Despite Barcelona dominating possession early, the visitors went ahead when Ander Barrenetxea’s cross was converted by Odriozola with an outstretched foot.

Barcelona responded just before halftime through Jules Kounde, who scored with a header from Marcus Rashford’s corner.

Lewandowski secures win

The decisive moment came in the 60th minute when substitute Lamine Yamal created space to set up Lewandowski, who finished to make it 2-1.

The result means Barcelona remain in contention at the top of La Liga and could return to first place depending on other results.

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Dembele hails ‘wonderful’ Yamal, insists ‘he’ll win several Ballon d’Or awards’

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has hailed Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal after edging him to the 2025 Ballon d’Or on Monday night in Paris.

Dembele, who spearheaded PSG’s historic treble-winning campaign last season, claimed football’s top individual prize ahead of Yamal and Vitinha.

Dembele’s treble-winning campaign

The Frenchman registered 37 goals and 16 assists across all competitions as PSG secured their maiden Champions League title alongside Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.

His heroics left voters with little doubt as he clinched the Golden Ball at the Théâtre du Châtelet.

Barcelona also enjoyed a stellar year under Yamal’s influence, lifting La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

However, their Champions League semi-final exit tilted the balance in Dembele’s favour.

Classy words for Yamal

In his emotional acceptance speech, Dembele lauded his teenage rival: “Lamine Yamal is an exceptional young man. A wonderful player with great maturity. I believe he will win several Ballon d’Or awards.”

Tribute to family

The PSG star also fought back tears as he thanked those closest to him. “To my mother, I want to thank you. You have always been there for me, mama,” he said.

“To my family, we have experienced so much together. We have been through it all. We will always be together.”

Future battle for football’s biggest prize

Dembele’s prediction for Yamal may not be far-fetched. At just 18, the Spaniard has already carved his name into football’s elite, recording five goal contributions in his first three games of the new campaign before picking up an injury.

Dembele himself has also been nursing a knock but is expected to feature when PSG host Auxerre in Ligue 1 next weekend.

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