Unai Emery endured another difficult visit to the Nou Camp as his Aston Villa side were defeated 3-0 by Barcelona in the Champions League.

An early goal from Lamine Yamal alongside two second-half strikes from Raphinha – who has now scored 19 goals in 13 appearances this campaign – ensured a disappointing 55th birthday for the Spanish manager.

Emery has now suffered defeat in 15 of his 16 trips to face Barcelona, a dismal record headlined by the infamous 6-1 loss with Paris Saint-Germain nine years ago following a 4-0 first-leg advantage.

Watched by super fan Prince William, this fixture represented a major milestone in Villa’s development across the four years of Emery’s reign.

While the loss brought an end to their flawless start in the league phase, the visitors might have altered the outcome had they converted a series of promising first-half opportunities.

Nevertheless, with winnable fixtures remaining, Villa retain strong prospects of securing a place in the top eight.

Against a prolific Barcelona side, Villa’s defensive lapse in the opening minutes proved costly.

Trying to play out from a seventh-minute goal-kick, Joao Gomes mistakenly delivered a pass straight to Yamal, who curled a finish into the corner from 12 yards out.

Despite the poor start, Villa almost restored parity immediately through consecutive corners.

Matty Cash saw his low strike deflected wide at the back post before Gomes had a close-range effort thwarted by a fine block from Joao Cancelo.

Settling into the contest, Villa exposed Barcelona’s high defensive line. They should have levelled in the 19th minute when Nicolas Jackson burst down the right flank to set up Johan Manzambi, who shot wide.

Jackson then raced through once more, only for rushing goalkeeper Joan Garcia to intervene with a crucial foot-tackle.

At the other end, Zion Suzuki briefly put Villa in jeopardy playing from the back, though he quickly redeemed himself by saving an attempt from Anthony Gordon.

Manzambi then threatened again, driving into the penalty area only to see his effort halted by Garcia.

Those missed chances proved decisive when Barcelona doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute. Fermin Lopez picked out Raphinha on the edge of the area, and his shot deflected off Pau Torres’ heel into the net.

Twelve minutes later, the hosts added a third as Cancelo evaded John McGinn to cross for Raphinha, who scored comfortably from six yards.

Villa attempted to respond, with Leon Goretzka sending a glancing header against the post.

However, Barcelona remained dominant late on. Another misplaced pass from Suzuki exposed Boubacar Kamara, though the Japanese international denied Fermin’s follow-up shot, before Yamal – now the highest-scoring teenager in Champions League history – narrowly missed with two further efforts.