Raphinha's Double Ends Villa's Perfect Champions League Start at Camp Nou
Barcelona's 3-0 victory over Aston Villa featured a brace from the Brazil winger and a tribute to a fallen teammate.
By William Turner ·
Aston Villa’s flawless start to the Champions League came to a halt at Camp Nou on Tuesday as Barcelona secured a 3-0 victory. The hosts took full advantage of home conditions, with heavy rain falling during the match, to dismantle the English side and extend their own winning streak in the competition.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the seventh minute. The 19-year-old winger intercepted a misplaced pass from Joao Gomes inside the penalty area and calmly finished past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Barcelona maintained high pressure for the remainder of the first half, forcing Villa into defensive error. Villa captain John McGinn, making his first professional visit to the stadium, noted his side responded well despite the early setback. Matty Cash fired wide, and goalkeeper Joan Garcia saved efforts from Nicolas Jackson and Johan Manzambi to keep the scoreline at 1-0 at the break.
The match turned decisively in Barcelona’s favor in the second half. Fermin Lopez set up Raphinha for the second goal, which the Brazil winger finished into the bottom corner after displaying quick footwork. Shortly after, Raphinha added his second of the night. Joao Cancelo delivered a cross using the outside of his boot, allowing Raphinha to tap in from close range. This goal marked Raphinha’s 19th of the season across all competitions, cementing his status as the team’s primary striker.
Barcelona recorded their first clean sheet in 19 Champions League matches with the win. The result also snapped a losing streak that began with their previous defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The victory keeps them in contention for a top-eight finish in the league phase. Unai Emery, who managed Villa, watched his team compete before the break but conceded that Barcelona’s quality in the final third proved decisive.
The pre-match atmosphere was somber as the Champions League anthem was omitted. Players and officials observed a moment of silence for Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died of a cardiac arrest on Tuesday morning. De Miguel suffered the collapse following an on-pitch collision during a Spanish second-division match on Monday. The tragedy prompted widespread reaction across the football community.
Raphinha dedicated the victory to the late player’s family. Speaking to Movistar, he stated, "I want to dedicate this win to the fans, but today I don't want to talk about football, I want to send a message to the family of Jesus, may he rest in peace." He added, "This can happen to anyone; it's very tough. From the club, I want to send a message of strength to the family."
Other matches on Tuesday night produced decisive results for top contenders. Bayern Munich defeated Atletico Madrid 2-0 in Madrid, with second-half goals from Lennart Karl and Konrad Laimer breaking down the visitors. Paris Saint-Germain crushed Villarreal 6-0, setting a record as the fastest team to score four goals in a Champions League match. Manchester United also found a way to win, overturning a two-goal deficit against AS Roma at Old Trafford. Matheus Cunha scored twice in quick succession after halftime to secure a 3-2 comeback for the hosts.
The results solidify the positions of several European powerhouses heading into the latter stages of the league phase. Barcelona’s win moves them closer to qualifying for the knockout rounds, while Aston Villa must now focus on their domestic campaign to maintain their form.
