Barcelona - Villarreal: Yamal hat-trick sends Barça to 4-1 win at Camp Nou
Lamine Yamal scored a first-career hat-trick and Robert Lewandowski added a goal as Barcelona beat Villarreal 4-1 at the Camp Nou, a result that closed a tense build-up to the Copa del Rey return with Atlético; barcelona - villarreal left Hansi Flick with selection choices ahead of Tuesday 3.
Yamal’s breakout performance and the numbers
The 4-1 final score at Camp Nou was built around Yamal’s three goals and a finish from Lewandowski, and Lluis Bou produced a 2: 00 analysis of the match. Yamal’s hat-trick was the first of his career, and the winger was substituted and given a 15-minute break during the game with thoughts turned to the Copa tie on Tuesday 3.
Bernal pivoted after De Jong’s injury
Flick deployed Marc Bernal as pivot with Dani Olmo and Fermín López ahead; Bernal anticipated play and was singled out as one of the standout performers after the recent injury to Frenkie de Jong. That midfield reshuffle was cited as Flick’s solution in neutralizing Villarreal in Barcelona’s attacking half.
Lineups and substitutions
Barcelona started: Joan García; Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Alejandro Balde; Fermín López, Marc Bernal (Ronald Araújo, min. 67), Dani Olmo (Pedri, min. 58); Lamine Yamal (Roony Bardghji, min. 73), Ferran Torres (Robert Lewandowski, min. 67) and Raphinha (Marcus Rashford, min. 73). Villarreal started: Luiz Júnior; Mouriño, Pau Navarro, Renato Veiga, Sergi Cardona (Alfon, min. 81); Pepê (Oluwaseyi, min. 84), Comesaña (Parejo, min. 81), Pape Gueye, Moleiro (Buchanan, min. 67); Ayoze Pérez (Pedraza, min. 67) and Mikautadze.
Pre-match questions that mattered on the pitch
The fixture had arrived with doubt over whether Lamine Yamal should play at 16: 15, given a heavy recent workload and the fact he was observing Ramadan, which the coverage noted can affect recovery and physical management. Real Madrid sat one point behind Barcelona in the table before kick-off, raising the stakes for the 16: 15 meeting and the decisions Hansi Flick faced. Pedri was available to start after recent recovery, while De Jong’s recent injury reduced midfield options; Flick could have started Yamal and then dosed him in the second half if the scoreline allowed, pending the pre-match fitness report and the player’s sensations.
What comes next
Barcelona’s victory kept them in the title race and set the club’s immediate schedule: the Copa del Rey return against Atlético on Tuesday 3 is the next confirmed fixture, followed by a LaLiga trip to Athletic Club on Saturday 7, a match at Elche on Sunday 8 of March, and a game versus Alavés on Friday 13.
