Raphinha adds two to Lamine Yamal's opener as Barcelona beat Villa 3-0

Davide Massa refereed in front of 52,662, and both managers picked a four-two-three-one. Hansi Flick started Joan García in goal behind João Cancelo, Gerard Martín, Pau Cubarsí and Brian Fariñas, with Pedri and Rodri in midfield and Gordon, Fermín López and Lamine Yamal behind Raphinha. Unai Emery named Suzuki behind Maatsen, Pau Torres, Lindelöf and Cash, with Kamara and João Gomes as the pair in front of them and Buendía, Manzambi and McGinn supporting Jackson.

Lamine Yamal's goal in the seventh minute was the only one of the first half. Massa booked Maatsen in the 11th minute and Buendía in the 31st, then Raphinha and Jackson at 45. At 1-0 the visitors were still in the game at the break, and the half-time score was the last point of the night at which Villa were within a goal.

Flick changed his midfield for the second half, Marc Bernal on for Rodri in the 46th minute. He told Uefa of Rodri: "He has some discomfort in the muscle and we have to wait until tomorrow." Raphinha scored in the 52nd, from Fermín López's assist. Emery replied with three changes in the 62nd minute, Barkley for João Gomes, Goretzka for Manzambi and Mbaye for Buendía, and Raphinha scored again in the 64th from João Cancelo's assist. Flick made his own triple change in the 70th, Gavi for Fermín López, Gabriel Jesus for Raphinha and de Jong for Pedri. Abraham replaced Jackson and Alysson replaced McGinn in the 77th, and Alejandro Balde came on for Brian Fariñas in the 82nd.

Barcelona kept the ball like a household that knows where everything lives. They had 65 per cent of it and 552 accurate passes from 603, a pass accuracy of 91.5 per cent to Villa's 79.9. Villa, with 323 passes, went long 46 times to Barcelona's 26. The visitors did reach the area: 26 touches in the Barcelona box, 11 crosses to 10 and eight corners to four. Their nine shots produced one on target.

Barcelona's 16 shots brought eight on target and three goals, and Villa were credited with five saves. Expected goals of 1.96 to 0.72 measure the gap in chances, and it was a real one, not an accident of finishing. Emery saw it differently, telling TNT Sports: "If we could score one goal with the chances we had in the first half maybe it would have been different." He also said: "In this level you must be more ruthless." The one shot on target says he has a point about the ruthlessness.

Before this game Barcelona's form guide listed wins over Alavés, Real Betis and Galatasaray and defeats by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Villa's listed a draw with Fulham, a League Cup defeat by Bournemouth and wins over Manchester City, Viking and Newcastle United. The sides had no meetings listed before this one.

In the table as it stood at 22:13 on the night, with this match included, Barcelona were second and Aston Villa third, both on nine points from four games, Barcelona ahead on goal difference, eight to six. Paris Saint-Germain led on 12. Villa's record read three wins and a defeat, so this was their first loss of the league phase. Liverpool, Real Madrid and Real Betis also had nine points from three games.