Lamine Yamal scored the first hat-trick of his career as Barcelona beat Villarreal to ensure they will stay top of La Liga.
With two goals in nine minutes, both assisted by Fermin Lopez, the 18-year-old gave the home team the lead at the break.
Senegal player Pape Gueye subsequently gave Villarreal a goal back, and the visitors missed a fantastic opportunity to tie the score.
However, Lamine Yamal scored once more, and in stoppage time, substitute Robert Lewandowski made it 4-1, putting Barcelona four points ahead of Real Madrid, who will visit Getafe on Monday.
According to statisticians Opta, Lamine Yamal’s achievement made him the youngest player to accomplish a first hat trick in La Liga this century at the age of 18 years and 230 days.
Fermin was one of four players promoted to Barcelona’s starting lineup after scoring the game-winning goal as a substitute in a 3-0 home victory over Levante.
The 22-year-old midfielder pulled the strings, setting up the game’s first clear-cut opportunity for right-back Jules Kounde, who dragged his shot terribly wide of the far post.
Yamal had a speculative drive saved by Villarreal goalkeeper Luis Junior, but he made no mistake with his next opportunity, creating a fantastic second goal from nothing.
Fermin pounced on a loose ball in midfield and fed Yamal, who took a touch before tapping home the opener.
The young Spain international then received the ball on the right wing, beating two players before shooting high beyond Junior and inside the far post.
Junior made a point-blank save on Dani Olmo just after halftime, and Villarreal halved the deficit moments later, with Gueye scoring from close range after a corner fell into his path.
The visitors had won three of their last four games to go ahead of Atletico Madrid into third place, nine points behind Real, and Ayoze Pérez should have tied them after 54 minutes.
Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia failed to clear after coming out to stop a Villarreal counter-attack, leaving two defenders between Perez and the goal, but the ex-Newcastle and Leicester striker blasted wide from outside the area.
Tempers escalated on the sideline, with both teams’ head coaches booked, until Barcelona’s Hansi Flick substituted Pedri for Olmo.
The 23-year-old Spain midfielder assisted the hosts in regaining control before threading a superb ball through to Lamine Yamal, who beat Junior from a wide angle for 13 La Liga goals this season and a total of 101 goals and assists for club and country.
Pedri and French defender Koundé then teamed up to set up Lewandowski’s 11th La Liga goal of the season.
