A hyped clash — Yamal’s solo show
On paper, this smelled like a trap.
Barca, top with 61 points, hosted Villarreal, a solid third and buzzing.
On the pitch there was only one player running the show.
Barca won 4-1. Lamine Yamal scored a hat-trick. It was more than numbers.
It was a clinic.
28th minute: the sucker-punch
The start was lively. Villarreal tried to press high, build through Pape Gueye and Nicolas Pepe.
Then, in the 28th minute, a clumsy turnover in midfield changed everything. Yamal pounced. He sped away, drew defenders, slotted it with the side of his foot.
1-0.
Simple. Ice-cold.
37th minute: the masterpiece
Nine minutes later Camp Nou was on its feet before the ball even crossed the line.
Yamal picks it up on the right. Cut inside. Cut inside again. He wrong-foots three defenders and curls a left-footed shot into the top corner.
2-0.
🚨🇪🇸 WHAT A FANTASTIC GOAL FROM LAMINE YAMAL! 🤯🤯
Barcelona 2-0 Villarreal.pic.twitter.com/s7iS07oPP2
— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) February 28, 2026
The sort of goal that hushes a stadium… then makes it detonate.
Villarreal tried to answer — Alberto Moleiro rattled the post just before half-time. But the feeling was already set: Barca controlled it. Yamal dictated.
A scare, quickly snuffed
After the break, surprise.
From a messy corner, Pape Gueye made up for his earlier mistake and pulled one back (2-1, 47′). For a few minutes doubt crept in. Villarreal pushed. Barca wobbled.
Then Pedri looked up.
Pedri played a pinpoint pass over the defence. Yamal raced clear. Left-footed angled shot into the near-post netting.
3-1, 68′.
His first career hat-trick. At 18 years and 230 days.
Game over.
The stats of a prodigy
In 73 minutes Yamal touched the ball 70 times. Unplayable down the right, he tore into Sergi Cardona, kept surging and constantly caused problems.
Those were his 11th, 12th and 13th La Liga goals this season — in just 22 appearances.
He becomes the second-most prolific under-18 scorer in Spanish top-flight history with 27 goals, behind Raul Gonzalez.
When he left the pitch for Roony Bardghji, the 44,000 at Camp Nou gave him a standing ovation.
A rare, genuine moment.
Barca takes off
Robert Lewandowski added a fourth late on to finish the show.
Final score: 4-1.
Hansi Flick’s men move temporarily four points clear of Real Madrid, who play on Monday.
But more than the table, it felt like something else.
Barcelona didn’t just win. They made a statement.
And at the heart of that statement was an 18-year-old who plays like he’s been around forever.
After the game Yamal just smiled. “I’m trying to enjoy it. This is the club of my life.”
Camp Nou is enjoying it too.
Because everyone knows they’re watching something special.
Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP
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