Barcelona brought Aston Villa’s perfect start to the Champions League to an end with a thrilling 3-0 victory at the Spotify Nou Camp.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the seventh minute before Raphinha struck twice after half-time to secure the win for the five-time European champions. The result moved Barcelona above Aston Villa into second place in the league phase table.
Aston Villa created enough opportunities to make the result far less comfortable, particularly during an open and entertaining first half. Matty Cash and Victor Lindelof both saw efforts deflected behind, while Johan Manzambi missed the target with a scuffed attempt before forcing a save from Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Barcelona were handed the advantage when Joao Gomes played a hurried pass across his own penalty area. Yamal took full advantage, curling the ball into the net for his 13th goal in 15 games.
Rather than retreat after falling behind, Aston Villa continued to attack and repeatedly tested a Barcelona defence which had failed to keep a clean sheet in its previous 18 Champions League matches.
However, the visitors were made to pay for their missed chances seven minutes after the interval. Raphinha’s low effort took a decisive touch off Pau Torres, wrong-footing Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki as it found the net to make it 2-0.
The former Leeds United forward completed his double in the 64th minute. Joao Cancelo produced excellent work on the left before delivering a superb pass, allowing Raphinha to finish from close range.
Suzuki then prevented Barcelona from adding a fourth by saving from Anthony Gordon, while Aston Villa continued to search for a response.
Leon Goretzka came close to scoring a consolation when his header clipped the post, but Barcelona held on for their first European clean sheet since April 2025.
For Aston Villa, the defeat ended an otherwise perfect Champions League start and left them reflecting on the chances that might have changed the outcome.
