An enjoyable Sunday evening for both sides towards the end of the season. A bodacious Sunday in Barcelona saw a game of 5 goals as Villareal returned in the second half to win 3-2 over Barcelona at the Montjuic stadium, in which a full-time whistle saw Barcelona celebrate La Liga with their home fans.
The Villareal away crowd commends the players as the club’s Champions League qualification for the first time since the 2021/2022 season.
El Submarino Amarillo will be back in Europe’s most Elite competition next season, as this win all but secured Villareal’s top-five finish in the league.
Strong start for the Yellow Submarine
Villareal got off to a great start. 4 minutes into the game, Nicholas Pepe raced in behind from his half to find Ayoze Perez in the middle. Perez could slot it past Ter Stegan to stun the crowd at the Montjuic so early on.
The crowd didn’t stay stunned for long as Lamine Yamal got on the ball a minute later and started to work his magic. The stadium gasped in awe as he was double-teamed by two defenders by the corner flag. He managed to nutmeg one to evade pressure and invoke that entertainment factor that had got bums on seats for Barcelona games this season.
After going behind, it did not take long for Barcelona to find their rhythm, though, as they continued to create chance after chance in typical Barcelona fashion. However, some amazing saves from Villareal‘s young goalkeeper Luiz Junior keep them ahead. Saving efforts from point-blank range from Lewandowski and Fermin.
Yamal shows no signs of slowing down with the trademark finish – Ballondor charge?
Photo Source: Deposit Photos
Villareal stayed hanging on until the 38th minute. Lamine Yamal put on a skills show in the first half before stamping his footprints on the game by cutting in on his left, leaving two in his wake, and bending the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Luiz Junior helpless this time. This was similar to the league-winning goal he scored just three days prior, against Espanyol.
This goal is starting to become one of many trademarks of Yamal’s ever-evolving game. Something that raised question marks from critics around the 17-year-old’s game (Yes, it is as ridiculous as it sounds) earlier in the season was his goal scoring/finishing in front of the goal.
The Barcelona fans stand and applaud the generational Gem unearthed by La Masia. Levelling the score by force as he relentlessly attempted to break down the Villareal defence all half.
He has seemingly shifted his flow to this facet of the game in recent weeks, scoring three goals in the past three La Liga Fixtures. For me, he is the best player in the world right now.
Fermin Lopez puts Barca ahead – strong qualities on show.
Speaking of goal scorers in recent games – Fermin Lopez who also scored against Espanyol and had a last-minute goal ruled in the Classico put Barca ahead against Villareal.
Yamal weaved through two defenders to cut in and have his effort bounce back into play of the crossbar, to Martin whose cross is deflected, and the ball Lands for Fermin as he sets himself to shoot- as the ball looped into the bottom left corner to put Barca ahead just before half time.
Lopez’s ball-striking skill is something highlighted in my previous articles and he continues to validate this observation, scoring some spectacular goals as of late. However, watching Lopez live from the stadium I couldn’t help but notice how well he can carry the ball forward. Fermin possesses deceptively strong running power, making penetrative runs with the ball, riding challenges and eluding pressure ever so well as he continued to threaten Villarreal defence throughout his time on the pitch.
Villareal come-back to qualify for Champions League
After a thoroughly entertaining first-half it seemed as though that was as good as it would get for the blaugrana as just 5 minutes into the second half Villareal level up the scores in style!
Yeremy Pino plays an exquisite through ball which Santi Comesansa races to get on to with a cute dink over Ter Stegan who was left in no man’s land as the ball dipped into Barcelona’s Net. A very classy finish from the midfielder to make it 2-2 with 50 minutes of end-to-end action already played.
With 10 minutes to go Villareal kept pushing on the counter after withstanding a barrage of Barcelona attacks. Gerard Moreno played in a perfect pass across the goal into the middle – avoiding the Barca defense and landing right in the path of substitute Buchanan at the far post. Initially, Buchanan seemed to have the ball stuck in his feet as Marc Andre Ter Stegans slips over allowing him the extra second to realign and shoot from point-blank range to restore the lead from Barca!
Both teams leave with something to celebrate at full-time.
Yamal continues to put on a show for the crowd. Flicks, tricks, and dribbles as he continues to push for the equaliser in style, and he nearly does towards the end with 2 attempts on goal blocked in injury time, the final whistle blows.
Slightly odd scenes as both teams celebrate as the game ends. Villareal players as the win qualifies them for the Champions League next season. Barcelona fans and players as they prepare to lift La Liga and enjoy it with their fans at the Montjuic Stadium. A rare decent end for all parties, Barca and Villareal celebrate their respective reasons and for the neutral – A 5-goal thriller with some wonderful goals! – and for me an enjoyable afternoon of football and a peaceful down through the beautiful scenery surrounding the Montjuïc.
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