Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal scored the primary hat-trick of his profession in a 4-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday that took the Catalan giants 4 factors clear on the prime of La Liga.
The Spain worldwide struck twice within the first half and, after Pape Gueye pulled one again for the guests at Camp Nou, struck in a 3rd for Hansi Flick’s aspect.
Robert Lewandowski rounded off Barca’s triumph with a late tap-in as they prolonged their lead over Actual Madrid, who host Getafe on Monday, and third-place Villarreal who now path the champions by 13 factors.
Yamal, who appears to have absolutely recovered from a groin subject which bothered him for a number of weeks earlier within the marketing campaign, was at his effervescent finest.
The winger turned the youngest participant to attain a hat-trick in La Liga within the twenty first century at 18 years and 230 days outdated.
Yamal has now equaled his tally of 18 targets final season throughout all competitions, changing into the staff’s prime goalscorer and elevating the one space of his recreation which referred to as for enchancment.
Barcelona may need taken the lead by way of Jules Kounde early on however the French defender screwed a shot throughout the face of the purpose when effectively positioned.
Yamal examined Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior from distance, providing a quick glimpse of what was quickly to comply with.
Barca took the lead when Fermin Lopez received the ball excessive up the pitch and fed Yamal, who curled dwelling after 28 minutes.
Yamal’s second adopted 9 minutes later, a surprising particular person purpose after he drove in from the appropriate.
{The teenager} left Sergi Cardona and Alberto Moleiro for lifeless after which whipped a strike into the far prime nook.
Luiz Junior saved Raphinha’s free-kick as Barca sought a 3rd earlier than the interval. Kounde flicked dwelling however was offside and Yamal may need accomplished his hat-trick however fired over.
Dani Olmo wasted an excellent likelihood early within the second half and shortly paid the worth as Villarreal pulled one again.
Gueye turned dwelling from shut vary after a scramble within the field as Barca didn’t clear a nook.
The Yellow Submarine practically had a second when Joan Garcia got here flying out of his purpose to try to beat Ayoze Perez to a ball behind Barca’s protection.
The goalkeeper didn’t win it cleanly and after Perez recovered possession the Canary Islander fired simply large with Garcia stranded in no man’s land.
Yamal bent one other shot agonizingly large from the sting of the field as he chased his first ever treble, which finally got here after substitute Pedri performed him in with an inch-perfect go.
{The teenager} beat Luiz Junior with a medical end and was given an ovation when Flick introduced him off shortly afterwards.
Lewandowski netted Barca’s fourth after good work from Pedri and Kounde, who had one in every of his finest video games of the season.
Scoring 4 targets — not less than — is what Barca must do on Wednesday, as they host Atletico Madrid within the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, aiming to beat a 4-0 deficit.
