Raphinha and Lamine Yamal enjoyed starring roles as LaLiga leaders Barcelona restored their four-point advantage at the top with a comfortable 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal.

A eighth successive league victory ensured Hansi Flick's side finished the year with a healthy advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid, in what increasingly looks like a two-horse race -- with third-placed Atletico Madrid already nine points behind.

Raphinha caused the hosts endless problems in the first half, winning and scoring a 12th-minute penalty which set them on their way before Renato Veiga's red card for fouling Yamal just before half-time effectively sealed their fate.

Yamal made sure with his third goal in the last five league matches midway through the second half.

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That was enough to end a run of six successive league victories which had propelled Villarreal up to third heading into this weekend.

The home side had the early chances, Nicolas Pépé sending a close-range header wide and Ayoze Pérez dragging one shot off target with another saved by Joan García.

But they were made to pay for passing up those opportunities as Barcelona's first real attack saw them take the lead.

Raphinha cut inside only to be nudged over by Santi Comesaña, picking himself up to send Luiz Júnior the wrong way from the spot with a low drive for his fourth in the last three league games.

The former Leeds winger almost doubled his tally just a couple of minutes later with a curling 20-yard effort which struck high up a post with Luiz Junior a mere onlooker.

Villarreal thought they had equalised when Jules Koundé turned in a low cross into his own net but the Barcelona defender was saved by a late flag from the assistant referee.

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Encouraged, the hosts pressed on with Pepê hitting a post either side of Tajon Buchanan leaving Joan Garcia clutching at thin air with a shot which flew just wide before forcing the Barca goalkeeper into a good save.

But all that good work was undone when Veiga went through the back of Yamal and was perhaps harshly shown a red card.

When Yamal whipped a finish through a crowded penalty area from Frenkie de Jong's pass, Villarreal's hopes were extinguished despite Georges Mikautadze and Sergi Cardona forcing a double save from Joan Garcia.

There was still time for Barcelona substitute Marcus Rashford to have two chances, volleying a corner just wide before a deft clip beat Luiz Junior but not the covering defender on the line.