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Aston Villa suffered their first defeat of this season’s UEFA Champions League courtesy of a 3-0 loss at Barcelona.
Aston Villa suffered their first defeat of this season’s UEFA Champions League courtesy of a 3-0 loss at Barcelona.
Lamine Yamal capitalised on a defensive error to open the scoring after seven minutes at the Camp Nou, the first time Villa had trailed in Europe’s elite club competition this term.
The visitors enjoyed opportunities to level amid the pouring rain in Barcelona, yet Raphinha doubled the hosts’ advantage seven minutes into the second half with a deflected low finish following some neat footwork.
The Brazil international then bagged his second of the night from close range in the 64th minute, with Villa substitute Leon Goretzka seeing his glancing header clip the outside of the far post.
Defeat on Matchday 4 against the reigning La Liga champions and current league leaders ended Villa’s 100 per cent start to the league phase following three wins from three in the Champions League.
It was the first meeting between Villa and Barcelona since our Super Cup success over two legs in January 1983, marking the latest chapter on the club’s journey for our 3,000 travelling supporters and those watching all around the world.
Unai Emery’s side will be looking to bounce back in the competition against Galatasaray later this month, with a Premier League trip to Manchester United first up on Sunday.
João Gomes and Emi Buendía returned to Villa’s starting XI as Emery made two changes from Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Both sides observed a moment of silence ahead of kick-off following last week’s train crash in Spain as well as the recent passing of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel.
After an evenly-balanced start to the encounter, the hosts opened the scoring with seven minutes on the clock, as Lamine Yamal latched on to a wayward pass inside the area from Gomes, following Zion Suzuki’s goal-kick, and duly converted into the far corner.
Villa’s response was a positive one as Matty Cash saw his fierce volley deflected narrowly wide by Pedri before Gomes’ goalbound strike was blocked by João Cancelo.
Johan Manzambi was next to go close as he slotted wide from Nicolas Jackson’s low cross, before the latter was himself thwarted by onrushing Barça ‘keeper Joan Garcia.
Suzuki parried well from Anthony Gordon in the 26th minute before Garcia was again called into action to keep out a powerful effort from Manzambi.
Opportunities were coming at either end during an open first half and Pau Torres put in a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny Raphinha, with Barcelona holding a slender advantage at the interval.
The majority of the 52,662 fans inside the stadium were celebrating early in the second half as the hosts doubled their advantage, Raphinha receiving the ball from Fermin Lopez, shifting on to his left foot and firing into the bottom corner via a deflection off Victor Lindelöf.
Boss Emery turned to Goretzka, Ibrahim Mbaye and Ross Barkley just after the hour mark.
Yet it was Barcelona who soon added a third as Raphinha latched on to Cancelo’s teasing ball with the outside of his boot to convert from close range.
Suzuki parried well from Lopez before Goretzka came close to getting Villa on the scoresheet at the other end as his deft header clipped the far post.
Alysson and Tammy Abraham were introduced in the 77th minute as the visitors looked for a consolation.
However, it was Lamine Yamal who came close to adding to the scoreline late on for a victorious Barcelona as he fired across goal.
