Barcelona ended their home schedule in the 2024-25 _La Liga_ season with a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal on Sunday. The loss ends up as a footnote in what was a very entertaining clash that included another special Lamine Yamal goal, but the only thing that matters is the post-match ceremony in which Barça got to lift the league trophy and celebrate a wonderful season in front of the home crowd.
**FIRST HALF**
Barça started the game very much like a team that spent the weekend celebrating a title victory, and they were made to pay just four minutes into the action when Nicolas Pepé got in behind the _Blaugrana_ high line and found Ayoze Pérez all alone in the middle, and the striker passed the ball into the bottom corner to put the Yellow Submarine in front.
The home team responded very well to going behind, however, and played some great football for the rest of the period. The Catalans created massive chances and Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Júnior became the star of the show, making three huge saves against Fermín López, Robert Lewandowski and Eric García.
But Júnior could not stop the brilliance of Lamine Yamal: the teenage superstar worked his magic once again with 10 minutes to go in the half, scoring what has now become his trademark goal by cutting inside on his left foot and curling a beautiful shot into the far corner.
Yamal was also involved in the buildup to the second goal, making a sensational solo move that almost resulted in a goal of the season contender if not for another great save by Júnior, but Barça were able to recycle possession and after a cross from the right wing was cleared to the edge of the box, Fermín was quickest to the rebound and fired a beautiful shot with his left foot to complete the _Blaugrana_ comeback with the last touch of the half.
The halftime whistle came to end a very entertaining opening period, one in which Barça started poorly but recovered quickly to dominate the action and score two fantastic goals to take a lead into the break.
**SECOND HALF**
Hansi Flick made a couple of changes at halftime, sending on Frenkie de Jong to give Pedri a rest and Alejandro Balde in place of Gerard Martín at left-back. Despite the substitutions the Catalans fell asleep to start the second half just as they did in the first, and conceded another early goal when Yeremi Pino found Santi Comesaña all alone inside the box for a nice finish over Marc-André ter Stegen to bring the visitors back in the contest.
Barça increased the pressure after allowing the equalizer and once again created some good chances, but their football wasn’t as good compared to the first half and most of their danger came on shots from outside the box that didn’t truly threaten Luiz Júnior.
Then with 10 minutes to go came a gut punch against the run of play: Sergi Cardona played a cross from the left wing that went through everyone inside the box and found Tajon Buchanan all alone at the far post, and the substitute fired it home to put the visitors in front.
Barça pushed for a late equalizer and both Yamal and Raphinha had a couple of attempts that went wide of the mark, and the final whistle came to end a very entertaining evening in _Montjuïc_.
Villarreal ultimately didn’t need a victory to clinch a Top 5 finish and a Champions League spot, but they played for the three points and fought for the comeback. But Barça played pretty well, even better than expected given how little the game mattered.
At the end we got a great 90 minutes, another amazing goal by Yamal, and a trophy celebration in front of the home crowd. A fun night after all.
**Barcelona**: Ter Stegen; Eric (Fort 74’), Cubarsí, Iñigo, Martín (Balde 46’); Gavi (Olmo 85’), Pedri (De Jong 46’); Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; Lewandowski (Víctor 74’)
Goals: _Yamal (38’), Fermín (45+5’)_
**Villarreal**: Júnior; Foyth, Navarro (Kambwala 64’), Costa, Cardona; Pépé (Gerard 77’), Comesaña, Parejo (Gueye 58’), Pino (Buchanan 64’); Baena, Ayoze (Barry 46’)
Goals: _Ayoze (4’), Comesaña (50’), Buchanan (80’)_