The Spanish champion Barcelona secured the first place in the half-season after defeating Villarreal 2:0 as a guest in a match from the 17th round, BTA reported. This was the eighth consecutive victory for the Catalans in La Liga.
With the success of the inhospitable "Estadio de la Ceramica" the Catalans collected 46 points from 18 matches played and restored their four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid. Villarreal is in fourth place in the table with 35 points, but with two games less than Barcelona, Real and Atletico Madrid in front of them.
Barcelona achieved the success with goals from its stars Rafinha and Lamine Yamal. The Brazilian opened the scoring in the 12th minute from a penalty, but Villarreal could have equalized in the counterattack after Tajon Buchanan hit the left post of Joan Garcia's goal.
In the 16th minute, the post also helped Villarreal after a shot by Rafinha, and shortly after that, an equalizer by the hosts was canceled due to offside.
In the 39th minute, the hosts were left with a man less due to a direct red card to Renato Veiga for a rough foul on Lamine Yamal.
In the second half, Barcelona already had control of the match and in the 63rd minute, Lamine Yamal shaped the final result after a long shuffle in front of the hosts' goal.