Raphinha Scores Twice as Barcelona Beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Camp Nou

Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Camp Nou on Tuesday, November 3, in Matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase. Lamine Yamal scored in the seventh minute, and Raphinha scored twice in the second half, in the 52nd and 64th minutes. The half time score was 1-0, and the win ended Villa's perfect start to the league phase.

Yamal strikes first

Barcelona led inside seven minutes. Yamal opened the scoring in the seventh minute, after a defensive error by Villa, according to The Sun's live coverage. The early goal settled the home side, and Villa had to chase the game at a ground where they had arrived with three wins from three league phase matches.

Villa, managed by Unai Emery, were looking for a fourth straight win in the competition. Instead they went in at the break a goal down, with the half time score 1-0, and Barcelona in control of the match.

Raphinha doubles the lead

Raphinha made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, assisted by Fermin Lopez. His effort was deflected, and the deflection wrong-footed Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, according to TNT Sports. The goal gave Barcelona the cushion their play had threatened, and it put the game close to beyond Villa with more than half an hour still to play.

Twelve minutes later the same player finished the contest. Raphinha scored again in the 64th minute, assisted by Joao Cancelo, to make it 3-0.

A cross with the outside of the boot

The third goal was the best of the night. Cancelo beat Matty Cash on the left wing and crossed with the outside of his right boot, sending the ball across the six yard box. Raphinha arrived to finish it, completing his second goal of the match and Barcelona's third.

The two goals took Raphinha to 23 Champions League goals for Barcelona. TNT Sports reported that only Lionel Messi, with 120, and Luis Suarez, with 25, have scored more for the club in the competition, and that Raphinha went level with Robert Lewandowski on 23.

Royal guests in the rain

Prince William and Prince George watched the match at Camp Nou among more than 80,000 fans in heavy rain. Barcelona posted a message about the visit, reported by The Sun: "FC Barcelona is honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and His Royal Highness Prince George to the Spotify Camp Nou."

For Villa, the defeat was their first of this league phase, after three wins from their first three matches. For Barcelona, a 3-0 home win with two goals from Raphinha and an early strike from Yamal was a complete night's work in Matchday 4. Kickoff was at 20:00 UTC, and Sportradar recorded the final score as FC Barcelona 3, Aston Villa 0.