Raphinha underlines Barcelona’s class to give Aston Villa a reality check

This was a chastening night for Aston Villa, and a familiar one for Unai Emery in this corner of town. On a chilly, damp, oddly processional night at the Camp Nou Barcelona produced a performance of unhurried, high-grade incision, easing to a 3-0 Champions League victory that never really seemed to tip into an actual close-quarter contest before it was gone. This Barcelona team will always give you a chance, a thrilling mix of gliding possession football and large open spaces behind their own teasingly high line. But Villa never looked like getting their teeth into those tender spots, always held at arm’s length, fists whirling in the space between. Continue reading...

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