Barcelona Vs Villarreal, La Liga 2024-25 Matchday 37 Highlights

On May 18, 2025, FC Barcelona hosted Villarreal CF at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in a La Liga fixture that, at the same time as being celebratory for the house side, resulted in a shocking 3-2 defeat. Despite having already clinched the league title, Barcelona's unbeaten run for the reason that December turned into a halt through a decided Villarreal side, who secured their spot within the subsequent season's UEFA Champions League with this victory.

Match Summary

The in-shape began with excessive intensity, as Villarreal's Ayoze Pérez opened the scoring from inside theth minute, capitalizing on a protecting lapse from Barcelona. Barcelona replied with vigor; Lamine Yamal equalized with an extremely good solo effort, and Fermín López gave the hosts the lead earlier than halftime. However, Villarreal's resilience shone through within the 2nd half. Santi Comesaña leveled the rating with a deft chip over Marc-André ter Stegen, and within the eightieth minute, Tajon Buchanan secured the win for the visitors, completing a fast counter-assault initiated by Gerard Moreno.

Lineups

FC Barcelona (Manager: Hansi Flick):

Goalkeeper: Marc-André ter Stegen

Defenders: Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, Alejandro Balde

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Fermín López

Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha

Villarreal CF (Manager: Marcelino García Toral):

Goalkeeper: Filip Jörgensen

Defenders: Juan Foyth, Raúl Albiol, Pau Torres, Alfonso Pedraza

Midfielders: Dani Parejo, Étienne Capoue, Santi Comesaña

Forwards: Ayoze Pérez, Gerard Moreno, Nicolas Pépé

Goalkeeper & Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (4/10):

Struggled on his return to the starting XI, often too late off his line before slipping for the third goal.

Eric Garcia (7/10):

Had a solid shift in place of Kounde and received a standing ovation when taken off in the second half.

Pau Cubarsi (5/10):

Did not look out of place alongside Martinez and did well a few times to step up and snatch the ball from Villarreal attackers.

Inigo Martinez (6/10):

Looked good for the most part and even had a few opportunities to score in the match, but ultimately was part of a backline that conceded three goals.

Gerard Martin (6/10):

Had a quiet first half before being replaced by Balde at half-time.

Midfield

Gavi (6/10):

Had a quiet night in midfield but got stuck in where he needed to and helped keep Barca on the front foot, despite the scoreline.

Fermin Lopez (8/10):

Stepped up into the attacking midfield role with confidence and proved his worth with a cracking strike before the break.

Pedri (7/10):

Looked sharp in the middle of the park but was preserved by Flick, swapping out for De Jong in the second half.

Attack

Lamine Yamal (9/10):

Proved once again why he is revered as the biggest talent since Lionel Messi. Scored another trademark strike and could have had at least a hat-trick on the night.

Robert Lewandowski (4/10):

Had an incredibly quiet night as he chases down Kylian Mbappe for the Pichichi and looked frustrated after being hooked with 20 minutes to go.

Raphinha (5/10):

Like Lewandowski, was off the pace in the match and had a few tame efforts that never troubled the Villarreal goal.

Subs & Manager

Alejandro Balde (6/10):

Could not stop Villarreal from grabbing a winner after coming on.

Frenkie de Jong (7/10):

Was heavily involved after coming on at half-time, dictating the play and pressing the Villarreal midfielders at every chance.

Pau Victor (5/10):

Was not too involved in his 15-minute cameo.

Hector Fort (5/10):

Like Victor, did not do too much after coming on.

Dani Olmo (N/A):

Was introduced for the final five minutes.

Hansi Flick (5/10):

Clearly wanted to give opportunities to younger players and may have sacrificed the chance to win the game by doing so.

Tactical Analysis

Barcelona's approach was characterized by normal, owned-based works. It aims to control the pace and create opportunities through complex passports. However, Villarreal disrupted this rhythm with an aggressive, urgent, and quick transition. The yellow submarine took advantage of the rooms left by Barcelona's advanced fullbacks to launch a counterattack, especially on the sides. The strategy paid off dividends from Buchanan's profit targets coming from the fast termination of the right.

Key Performances

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): The young winger became a consistent threat, showcasing his dribbling competencies and scoring a sensational goal to stage the match.T

ajon Buchanan (Villarreal): Coming off the bench, Buchanan's tempo and directness struck Barcelona's defense, culminating with the decisive aim.

Santi Comesaña (Villarreal): His composure in midfield and well-taken aim highlighted his significance in Villarreal's setup.

Post-Match Reactions

Despite the loss, Barcelona's players and fans celebrated their league triumph post-match. Manager Hansi Flick acknowledged the team's fatigue but emphasized pride in their season's achievements. He also hinted at areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining focus during celebratory periods.

Villarreal's manager, Marcelino, praised his team's determination and tactical discipline. Securing Champions League qualification was a significant milestone, and he expressed confidence in the squad's potential for the upcoming European campaign.

Implications

Barcelona will remain at the La Liga table with 85 points after already securing the title. Villarreal's victory gave her 67 points, ensuring her top four finishes and Champions League football next season.By taking in the views of

Looking Ahead

Barcelona, the season is completed in an away game and achieves high notes. Villarreal, burdened by this victory, tries to maintain the dynamics in preparation for European competition.

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