FC Barcelona moved four points clear at the top of LaLiga after a 4-1 victory over Villarreal CF, with Lamine Yamal scoring his first career hat-trick. The 18-year-old later revealed he had faced physical and emotional challenges earlier this season before rediscovering form.
Yamal struck twice in the first half and added a third after the break at Camp Nou, setting a new record as the youngest player to register a LaLiga hat-trick at 18 years and 230 days. His three goals, combined with a late finish from Robert Lewandowski, secured a comfortable win in Hansi Flick’s 100th match in charge of Barcelona.
The result strengthened Barcelona’s position at the summit, opening a four-point gap over Real Madrid, who were scheduled to play Getafe CF on Monday.
Yamal’s milestone performance also placed him ahead in Barcelona’s league scoring chart this season, raising his tally to 13 goals. The Spain international admitted after the match that he had struggled in recent months due to fitness concerns, including pubalgia, which affected his performances and confidence.
He said he has begun to feel physically stronger over the past week and is enjoying his football again. Yamal added that the team’s victory was his primary focus, noting that Villarreal provided strong opposition despite the scoreline.
The teenager’s treble marked the first time in 59 years that a player under 19 scored a hat-trick in LaLiga. He has now netted 27 league goals in 95 appearances, becoming the first player in Europe’s top five leagues this century to surpass 25 goals before turning 19.
Barcelona manager Flick praised Yamal’s impact, highlighting both his attacking contribution and defensive effort. He said the team needed the forward to regain confidence and commended his work rate throughout the match.
The victory further underlined Barcelona’s title ambitions as the season enters a decisive phase.
