VILLAREAL, Spain — A first-half strike from Pedri gave Barcelona a 1-0 win over Villareal at the Estadio de la Ceramica to extend their lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga to 11 points and keep them on course for a first league title since 2019.
The win leaves Barca top of the standings on 56 points after 21 games, while Villareal are in eighth position on 31 points, seven off La Liga’s fourth Champions League place, currently occupied by Atletico Madrid.
Robert Lewandowski fired an early chance straight at goalkeeper Pepe Reina but he had better luck with his passing, teeing up Pedri in a brilliant exchange that set up the 20-year-old to clip the ball into the net in the 18th minute.
Villareal lost midfielder Francis Coquelin to what looked to be a nasty knee injury in the 35th minute, and though the home side had more possession it was the visitors who created the better chances, with Lewandowski and Raphinha both coming close to doubling the lead.
When the opening goal did come it was roles reversed with Pedri scoring from Lewandowski’s assist. It was an excellent team goal with Jules Kounde winning the ball high up the pitch and Frenkie de Jong playing it quickly into Pedri. He swapped passes with Lewandowski and Pedri scored his sixth league goal of the season.
It could have been two when De Jong scooped a pass over the top for Lewandowski and his shot was saved by Reina.
It was Pedri’s slip, in added time at the end of the half that almost led to Villarreal’s equalizer. Jose Luis Morales was sent sprinting clear but he shot into the side-netting as Marc Andre ter Stegen closed the angle. He celebrated the miss like a keeper who has still only conceded seven goals all season in La Liga.
Villarreal were bolder after the break with Samu Chukwueze on as part of a front three that asked far more questions of Barcelona than the 4-4-2 had in the first period.
Lewandowski then over hit a final ball to Raphinha allowing Reina to come out and claim. The Polish forward was struggling to find his range – he did moments later with a pass and this time it was Raphinha who erred with the finish.
Pedri then put Lewandowski through but Reina was lightning quick out of his area to block.
Villarreal kept pushing but substitute Fer Nino’s shot went well wide. The home side had missed first choice centre-forward Gerard Moreno lacking a someone to finish their patient build-up.
With a minute left the ball was in the net from Chukwueze but the flag was up. Yeremy Pino was fractionally offside before he stepped back onside to play the assist.
There was a late claim of handball against Kounde but the ball had struck him in the stomach not the arm and instead of pointing to the spot referee Alejandro Jose Hernsndez Hernandez pointed the dressing rooms, blowing the whistle on another 1-0 win.
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