Barcelona vs Villarreal 4-1: La Liga – as it happened

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On Tuesday, Barcelona face Atletico Madrid at home in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, having lost the first leg 4-0 away. Their next league game is against Athletic Club on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Villarreal face Elche at home in the league on Sunday.

A groin issue kept Yamal out in November. When asked if it had gotten better, the teenager said: “Yeah, it was a bit of everything … I didn’t feel great in myself and had groin issues, but now, I feel better. I am smiling when I play, and I’m happy.

Asked if it’s his best form so far, he added, “I don’t know. You tell me!”

That was all from Yamal, the hero of Barcelona’s win this evening.

“I am very happy because of the team’s win,” said Yamal, who scored the first hat-trick of his career.

“I think Villarreal are a really good team, who are third [in the standings]. I am very happy with our win and my goals.”

Asked about his spectacular second goal, he said, “When I have the ball, I decide where we are going, so I waited for the defender to go one way and I went the other.”

Asked if he is scoring more often this season than before, Yamal added, “Yeah, I think so. People wanted me at 16 [years old] to be scoring 100 goals! I am very happy, even if it’s one or two goals. Also, very happy with Pedri coming back [into the team]… It’s brilliant!

“He gave a brilliant pass [for the third goal] and put me through on goal.”

Barcelona move to 64 points, four ahead of second-placed Real, who play Getafe at home on Monday.

Villarreal, despite the defeat, remain third on 51 points, three above fourth-placed Atletico Madrid. But Atletico can jump to third, leapfrogging Villarreal, if they beat Real Oviedo later this Saturday.

Yamal’s hat-trick and Lewandowski’s stoppage time goal off the bench guide Barcelona to a solid 4-1 win over Villarreal.

With this victory, Barca provisionally go four points clear at the top of the table ahead of Real’s game on Monday.

Rashford steps up for the set piece, which is within shooting range. But his delivery fails to clear the Villarreal wall of defenders guarding the kick.

90+4 mins: Barcelona 4-1 Villarreal

The Polish striker finishes a quick team move, tapping home Kounde’s pass, but the linesman raises the flag.

Initially, the goal is ruled out, but VAR confirms neither Lewandowski nor Kounde were offside, and Barcelona are granted the goal!

Replays showed Kounde squared a pass for Lewandowski, who made a quick run centrally and tapped home with ease for his 11th goal of the season.

90+2 mins: Barcelona 4-1 Villarreal

The game is swiftly slipping out of Villarreal’s reach.

Barcelona’s fans, meanwhile, are gearing up to celebrate their provisional four-point lead at the top of the standings.

90 mins: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal

Oluwaseyi replaces Pepe in Villarreal’s attack, as we enter the final phase of this contest.

83 mins: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal

Cardona makes way for Alfon, while Parejo comes on for Comesana.

The visitors have about 10 minutes to spring a comeback at Camp Nou.

81 mins: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal

1 – Youngest players to score their first hat-trick in @LaLigaEn in the 21st century:

18 years and 230 days – LAMINE YAMAL today vs Villarreal
19 years and 6 days – Gio dos Santos vs Murcia in May 2008
19 years and 125 days – Santi Mina vs Rayo Vallecano in April 2015

Gold. pic.twitter.com/ZffYyeDAep

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 28, 2026

79 mins: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal

Rashford’s delivery from a corner lands in the penalty area, where Lewandowski rises highest and makes connection, but the header goes wide off the top right corner.

77 mins: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal

Barcelona have opened a four-point lead at the top of the table, ahead of Real Madrid’s upcoming game on Monday.

Given the two-goal cushion, they should be able to close out this game against Villarreal with ease.

75 mins: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal

The hat-trick hero’s game comes to an end. Bardghji replaces him.

Meanwhile, Raphinha goes off for Rashford.

With that, Flick finishes his quota of substitutions.

74 mins: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal

Yamal registers his first-ever Barcelona hat-trick!

The 18-year-old picks up a clever throughball from substitute Pedri, sprints up and cuts in before going for his favourite spot: the bottom left corner of the net.

Yamal and Barca are flying high in Camp Nou!

69 mins: Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal

The substitute, who came off the bench a minute ago, catches E Garcia on the toe and goes into the ref’s book.

69 mins: Barcelona 2-1 Villarreal

Off go Torres and Bernal for Lewandowski and Araujo.

Head coach Flick has two more substitutions remaining.

Meanwhile, Pedraza replaces Moleiro and Buchanan comes on for Perez for Villarreal.

68 mins: Barcelona 2-1 Villarreal

Kounde brings down Perez with a nasty challenge from behind, leaving the Villarreal striker in pain.

However, the Barca defender luckily escapes a booking.

65 mins: Barcelona 2-1 Villarreal