Rafinha and Lamine Yamal raised their arms and held hands as Barcelona celebrated each other’s goal with a 2-0 win over Villarreal on Sunday, keeping them four points clear of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Rafinha was fouled as he cut inside, earning him a penalty. He was late in his run-up and, in the 12th minute, sent goalkeeper Luis Junior flying in the opposite direction to score his seventh league goal of the season and Barça’s 50th.
Yamal also scored his seventh goal of the season with a close-range shot in the 63rd minute after midfielder Frenkie de Jong set him up in a scramble for the goalmouth.
It was the seventh consecutive win in all competitions for Hansi Flick’s team.
Barcelona was without central defender Andreas Christensen, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during training on Saturday.
Villarreal defender Renato Veiga was shown a straight red card after being tackled from behind by Yamal late in the first half and was briefly treated on the ground.
With Villarreal’s defeat, Atlético Madrid moved into third place with a 3-0 win over Girona, albeit with two more games to play.
Atlético heading for victory
Midfielder Koke put Atletico ahead in the 13th minute with a superb half-volley into the top right corner from just outside the penalty area.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a brilliant save to deny Axel Witsel’s shot from close range midway through the first half, flicking it across the goal line with one hand.
Atlético doubled their lead in the 38th, when midfielder Conor Gallagher’s shot from 20 meters (yards) deflected off the wrong foot of a defender and goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Veteran forward Antoine Griezmann scored the winning goal in stoppage time to seal Atletico’s victory. The former France star exchanged quick passes with fellow substitute Giacomo Raspadori on the edge of the box, controlled the ball deftly with the outside of his right foot, and curled a low shot with his left foot into the opposite corner.
