Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona LIVE Score, La-Liga 2025-26: Raphinha Gives Barca Lead Via Penalty

A frenetic half comes to an end with: a penalty scored by Raphinha, a flurry of chances for both sides, and a straight red card for Veiga.

Yamal is jeered everytime he receives the ball. It seems the home fans aren't happy with the player playing a part in sending off of Veiga.

43 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

Renato Veiga's evening comes to an end as the former Chelsea man goes in on a reckless challenge on Lamine Yamal and the ref immediately brandishes a red card.

39 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

If Barca are poor at the back, then the home side are similar with their attack. The hosts fail to capitalise on an error from Keita Balde and the keeper Garcia with Buchanan unable to put it past the Barca keeper.

37 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

Villarreal panic at the back and that leads to Barca to penetrate with the ball falling to the feet of Lamine Yamal who takes a shot from long but it goes over the bar.

31 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

Barcelona are enjoying about 66% possession and have a one-goal lead, but the hosts are are nowhere out of this contest. Whenever they find the ball in the Barca half, there is something happening.

26 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

Buchanan is turning out to be the man for Villarreal as he tries another shot that goes slightly wide off the Barca post. The Canadian international has been the most active player for the hosts.

24 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

Villarreal think they have scored via an own goal from Jules Kounde from Cardona’s cross but the linesman far right flags it off and pours some water on Marcelino's ecstatic celebrations.

18 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

What an effort from the Brazilian as his shot from long way out hits the post and the visitors come ever so close to making it 2-0.

16 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

Raphinha gives Barca the lead after the Brazilian was tripped inside the penalty area by Comesana. Ref points to the spot. The former Leeds United man converts coolly from the spot and Barcelona take the lead.

11 mins: Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona

Villarreal break quickly and Pepe (Again) to the right, finds a neat pass to Buchanan who's cross is not met but falls into the lap of Ayoze Perez who hits a Barca player and goes for a corner.

8 mins: Villarreal 0-0 Barcelona

The Yellow Submarine mean business as the hosts break a Barca attack and immediately move forward with Nicolas Pepe in the heart of it. Moleiro whips in a cross but the former Arsenal man's header hits wide.

3 mins: Villarreal 0-0 Barcelona

The pre-match formalities are almost done! And we are away.

Players inside the tunnel as we close in on kick-off in the key La Liga fixture.

Villarreal’s starting XI: Junior; Navarro, Marin, Veiga, Cardona; Buchanan, Pareja, Comesana, Moleiro; Pepe, Perez

Barcelona’s starting XI: J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde; E Garcia, de Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha; Ferran

Total matches: 56

Villarreal won: 12

Barcelona won: 34

Draws: 10

• Location: Villarreal, Spain

• Stadium: Estadio de la Cerámica

• Date: Sunday, December 21

• Kick-off Time: 08:45 p.m. IST