Yamal’s acrobatic goal helps Barcelona beat Oviedo and regain Spanish league lead

By Canadian Press on January 25, 2026.

MADRID (AP) — Lamine Yamal scored with an acrobatic volley and Barcelona beat last-place Oviedo 3-0 to regain the lead of the Spanish league on Sunday.

Dani Olmo and Raphinha also struck in the second half with both players taking advantage of defensive mistakes by the Oviedo defense.

Yamal scored his 73rd-minute goal with a bicycle kick from near the penalty spot. Yamal connected with Olmo’s cross to swiftly send the ball into the far corner with his left foot.

It was the first league goal of the year for Yamal, and eighth in La Liga this season.

He received a loud ovation from the home crowd when he was substituted in the 79th.

The victory moved Barcelona one point ahead of Real Madrid, which won 2-0 at Villarreal on Saturday.

“We didn’t play our best in the first half but we found our way in the second and could score the goals,” Raphinha said.

Sunday’s match ended under a hailstorm in Barcelona.

Olmo opened the scoring with a low shot in the 52nd after the Oviedo defense failed to fully clear a ball inside the area.

Raphinha added to the lead five minutes later after Oviedo defender David Costas tried to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Aarón Escandell but left it short. Raphinha came in to intercept the pass and lobbed the ball over Escandell.

Barcelona had lost 2-1 at Real Sociedad in its previous league match, a result that had ended its 11-match winning streak across all competitions.

Last-place Oviedo is winless in 14 consecutive matches in all competitions. Its last win was a 2-1 victory over Valencia in September.

Atletico back to third place

Atletico Madrid regained third place by beating Mallorca 3-0.

It was the first time in six matches this year that Atletico scored more than one goal.

The victory moved Diego Simeone’s team three points ahead of Villarreal, which remains with a game in hand.

Alexander Sorloth put the hosts ahead by scoring his fourth goal of the year in the 22nd minute.

Atletico’s second goal was an unfortunate own-goal by Osasuna defender David López in the 75th. His teammate Mateu Morey attempted to clear a cross inside the area and his shot struck López in the face and ricocheted back into the net.

Midfielder Thiago Almada sealed Atletico’s second straight league victory in the 87th.

Mallorca, 16th in the standings, has only one win in its last five league games — 3-2 against Athletic Bilbao last weekend. It has three losses and a draw in this streak.

A minute of silence has been held before kickoff in all of this weekend’s games for the victims of two deadly train wrecks in Spain this week.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press

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