Barcelona Edges Villarreal After Red Card Drama

Barcelona secured a narrow victory over Villarreal following a dramatic encounter. The match began with end-to-end action, but Barcelona took the lead in the 12th minute through a penalty converted by Raphinha, awarded after Santi Comesana fouled the Brazilian. Villarreal managed to find the net once, but the equalizer was controversially ruled offside.

A significant turning point occurred in the 39th minute when Villarreal's Veiga received a straight red card for a dangerous challenge, reducing the hosts to ten men. This tactical setback hampered Villarreal's ability to maintain parity against the reigning champions.