FC Barcelona vs Villarreal: Blaugrana Demolish Yellow Submarine 4–1 at Spotify Camp Nou
FC Barcelona put on a dominant La Liga performance on Saturday, February 28, 2026, crushing Villarreal CF 4–1 at home to further cement their lead at the top of La Liga. With 74% possession and four goals, Barça was ruthless — conceding a brief scare early in the second half before stamping their authority all over the match.
Barcelona vs Villarreal Final Score: 4–1 — Barcelona Take Full Control
The final scoreline tells the full story of a completely one-sided La Liga contest. Barcelona registered 16 total shots to Villarreal's 7, putting 8 on target against 3 for the visitors. Barça controlled 74% of the ball throughout the 90 minutes, barely allowing Villarreal a foothold in what became an emphatic afternoon for the Blaugrana faithful at Spotify Camp Nou.
Villarreal's goalkeeper Arnau Tenas — facing his parent club — made 4 saves to keep the scoreline respectable, but there was simply no stopping Barcelona on the day. The Yellow Submarine struggled to create meaningful chances and were outclassed in virtually every department from the opening whistle to the final bell.
Barcelona Goals: Full Timeline of How the 4–1 Unfolded
The match timeline swung decisively in Barcelona's favor inside the first 40 minutes before a nervy 10-minute spell allowed Villarreal brief hope.
| Minute | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 28' | Barcelona GOAL | 1–0 |
| 37' | Barcelona GOAL | 2–0 |
| 49' | Villarreal GOAL | 2–1 |
| 53' | Barcelona Yellow Card | — |
| 56' | Barcelona Yellow Card | — |
| 69' | Barcelona GOAL | 3–1 |
| 90' | Barcelona GOAL | 4–1 |
Barcelona's third goal in the 69th minute — scored just one minute after a double substitution shake-up — proved to be the killer blow that extinguished any Villarreal comeback hopes. The fourth goal in stoppage time rounded off a commanding FC Barcelona display.
Barcelona Starting Lineup vs Villarreal
Barcelona's starting XI featured a formidable blend of experience and youth, with Robert Lewandowski leading the attack alongside Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji. Pedri and Marc Casado controlled the midfield, while the back line of Koundé, Cubarsí, Araújo, and Baldé provided a solid foundation for Barça's pressing game. Joan Garcia served as the match-day goalkeeper behind Wojciech Szczęsny on the bench.
Villarreal lined up with Thomas Partey and Dani Parejo in midfield, with Tani Oluwaseyi and Alfonso Gonzales tasked with troubling Barcelona's defense up front — a mission they largely failed to accomplish against the Blaugrana's organized backline.
FC Barcelona Match Stats vs Villarreal
| Stat | FC Barcelona | Villarreal |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 74% | 26% |
| Shots Total | 16 | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 3 |
| Shots Off Target | 5 | 2 |
| Shots Blocked | 3 | 2 |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 2 |
| Fouls | 13 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 1 |
| Offsides | 3 | 5 |
What the Barcelona Win Means for La Liga Standings
Barcelona's 4–1 victory over Villarreal keeps the Blaugrana firmly in command of La Liga 2025–26. Real Madrid suffered a shock 2–1 defeat at Osasuna last weekend, meaning Barcelona's lead at the top of the table has widened with this dominant result. Atletico Madrid face Real Oviedo later tonight at 3:00 PM ET, and a draw or Atleti loss would extend the gap further still.
Villarreal, meanwhile, remain in mid-table danger after a second consecutive defeat. Their defensive record has become a concern in recent weeks, and today's capitulation at Camp Nou will do little to ease the pressure on their coaching staff. For FC Barcelona and their fans, however, Saturday was a near-perfect La Liga afternoon — clinical, dominant, and deeply convincing from start to finish.
