BARCELONA - Raphinha struck twice to propel Barcelona to a 3-0 Champions League win over visitors Aston Villa on Nov 3, ending the English side’s perfect start to the competition.

Five-time winners Barcelona took an early lead through Lamine Yamal before Raphinha continued his fine goal-scoring form with a second-half brace.

Barca bounced back after defeat by champions Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European outing to stay in the hunt for a top-eight league phase berth.

Unai Emery’s Villa competed well in the first half but were eventually undone by Barca’s greater ability in the final third.

The Champions League anthem was not played before the game, as a mark of respect for Tenerife striker Jesus De Miguel, who died on Nov 3 after an on-pitch collision in a Spanish second-division match the previous day, provoking shock across the football world.

“Yes it was (a good win), 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,” Raphinha told Movistar.

“This can happen to anyone, it’s very tough... you’re going to play a game and the same thing can happen to you...

“From the club, I want to send a message of strength to the family.”

Villa captain John McGinn had only visited the Camp Nou once previously, on a summer holiday as an eight-year-old, and might have expected better weather than the downpour both teams were subjected to.

The skipper might also have expected a more focused start, with Villa handing Barcelona the lead in the seventh minute.

The Spanish champions pressed Aston Villa extremely high and Joao Gomes played a poor pass straight to Yamal in his own box. The 19-year-old winger gladly took the gift and stroked past Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

“Tonight was a huge learning curve for us and I am sure it will stand us in good stead for the future,” McGinn told TNT Sports.

“Barcelona made the right decisions at the right times and scored really good goals.”

Yamal’s goal was his 14th in the competition across his career, beating Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe’s previous record tally of 13 netted as a teenager in the Champions League.

Emery, who endured one of the worst nights of his career away at Barca when helming PSG in 2017 during a 6-1 defeat, may have feared the worst.

However, Villa reacted strongly and Matty Cash had a vicious drive deflected narrowly wide before Joao Cancelo blocked Gomes’ effort.

End-to-end

Suzuki saved from Anthony Gordon as Villa again struggled to bring the ball out from the back under Barca’s pressing.

Garcia was called into action again by Johan Manzambi as the match lurched from end-to-end.

Barcelona extended their lead early in the second half when Fermin Lopez fed Raphinha, who showed quick footwork before finding the bottom corner.

Cancelo set up Raphinha for Barcelona’s third with a superb cross with the outside of his boot. The Brazil winger, who has made the No. 9 position his own this season, pounced from close range for his 19th goal across all competitions.

Yamal sent a shot skidding wide as Barcelona probed for a fourth. It did not come, but the Catalan giants were able to record a first Champions League clean sheet in 19 games.

Flick was pleased with Barcelona keeping Villa at bay.

“It was important that we defended together very compactly,” said the German coach.

“The back line played on an amazing level, they defended everything.”

Aston Villa are well positioned, provisionally third in the league phase table.

Emery said the match was a good lesson for his side against one of the biggest teams in Europe.

“We must be ruthless in the attacking third, we must be more demanding of ourselves, creating those chances to score,” Emery told reporters.

“The 3-0 is maybe more (heavy) than we deserved, but we accept this defeat, taking a lot of information for our improvement.” AFP