Villa managed nine shots at Camp Nou, and only one on target

Barcelona beat Aston Villa at the Spotify Camp Nou after Lamine Yamal's early goal, while the visitors struggled to create anything at all.

Lamine Yamal put Barcelona ahead in the seventh minute, and Aston Villa spent the rest of the evening chasing a game they never really threatened. The Champions League tie at the Spotify Camp Nou finished with Barcelona well on top in every number that matters. That early goal shaped what the figures mean, because Villa had to attack a side that already held the lead.

Barcelona had 64% of the ball, which is almost exactly what they usually keep at home, so that part of the evening was ordinary for them. Villa's share is the figure to notice. Away from home they normally keep 46% of possession, so a side that only had 36% of the ball was pushed further back than its own habits would suggest. Villa did not simply lose the ball, they rarely had it in the places where it could do damage.

Villa's attacking output was the real story. They took nine shots, a long way below the 21 they average on the road, and only one of those was on target. Barcelona's 15 shots were a little under their home average, but still above the league's typical figure of 14.6 for a team in a match. Villa did win eight corners, which shows they were pushing into the box, yet a corner only becomes a chance if someone gets a clean header or shot away.

Expected goals is a measure that gives each shot a value based on how often shots of that kind turn into goals. Barcelona's chances added up to 1.96, which is below the 2.48 they usually create at home, so they scored more than their chances were worth. Villa's chances came to 0.64, against the 2.52 they average away, which means their attack was well short of its normal level. Barcelona's finishing carried them, and Villa's failure to find a shot carried the match away from them.

Villa's defence was under more pressure than they are used to. Away from home they usually concede a goal a game, and here they conceded three. Z. Suzuki was the one man who kept the scoreline from being worse, making five saves and earning a rating of 6.8 for it. Villa also picked up three yellow cards, all of them in the first half from Ian Maatsen, Emiliano Buendía and Nicolas Jackson, which meant they spent a good part of the game with their discipline under scrutiny.

Raphinha was the man who turned Barcelona's pressure into goals. He scored in the 52nd and 64th minutes, with Fermín López and João Cancelo providing the assists, and his rating of 8.8 was the highest of the night. Villa made three changes at the 62 minute mark, and Raphinha was himself replaced at 70, by which point the match had long since been settled. Villa, who average four goals on the road, went home without scoring at all.

Player of the matchRaphinha2 goals8.8

Lamine Yamal1 goal7.8

Fermín1 assist7.7

João Cancelo1 assist7.6