They can dress however they want: the hot notes from Villarreal - Barça

BarcelonaA crucial victory for Barça to close out 2025 in La Liga. Hansi Flick's men secured three golden points at La Cerámica against Villarreal in a match where Lamine Yamal nearly extended their lead (0-2). Here are some immediate observations.

The big difference compared to last season. Twelve months ago, Barça went into the Christmas break third in La Liga after a painful home defeat to Atlético Madrid. The team, incredibly entertaining, attractive, and voracious, was a juggernaut in attack, but such boldness backfired when their energy levels began to wane. In the fateful European semi-final against Inter, that tendency also took its toll. This season, however, the Blaugrana's image is less dazzling, less exuberant, but more effective and consistent. This Barça has learned to suffer, to manage results, to compete. That's why they'll go into the holidays with four points to spare. The formula will work in Spain, where their main rival will be a lamentable Real Madrid. In Europe, considering the Premier League's dominance, it's going to be much tougher.

The most pointless debate. In a week where Barcelona fans were surprised by Ter Stegen's starting position in the Copa del Rey, Joan Garcia delivered a sensational performance in La Liga. Flick doesn't need to keep repeating that the goalkeeper from Sallent is "number one." The facts speak for themselves, and given his performance, his signing can already be considered a bargain. In Villarreal, Joan was immense, thwarting four clear-cut chances for Marcelino's side, even with the score tied and both teams having the same number of players. He'll arrive in top form for the derby on January 3rd, where he'll face an Espanyol side looking for revenge. And as for Ter Stegen, that says it all. The best thing you can do is see the world, Marc.

An exemplary expulsion. Marcelino, the Roig family, and the entire La Cerámica stadium can react however they like, but the red card shown to Renato Veiga for his foul on Lamine Yamal was one of the clearest possible. The Villarreal center-back arrived far too late and caught the Mataró native's ankle, who thankfully escaped serious injury and continued playing, enduring a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball, as if he were feigning injury or responsible for almost ending up in the emergency room. That said, we celebrate that the player with the highest contract on the squad sealed the victory when Villarreal were most threatened with an equalizer. Up until that point, his tricks hadn't fooled a good full-back like Cardona.

A winter signing. The stretch of the season since the November break has served to confirm that the Cubarsí-Gerard Martín pairing in central defense can be very reliable. Although the two young defenders made a few errors playing out from the back in Villarreal, their composure and coordination in the duels they played together – all of which ended in victory – are beyond question. However, to face the second half of the season, and considering that Araujo is not yet mentally recovered, the number of players in defense will have to be increased. The ill-fated Christensen has torn his ACL and may not play for Barça again. fair play He will be available to strengthen the squad, but the board has guarantees to recover past registration fees. The club's management is conditioned by the directors' financial resources. What will Laporta prioritize?