Barcelona (AFP) - Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 4-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday that took the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga.

The Spain international struck twice in the first half and, after Pape Gueye pulled one back for the visitors at Camp Nou, stroked in a third for Hansi Flick’s side.

Robert Lewandowski rounded off Barca’s triumph with a late tap-in as they extend their lead on Real Madrid, who host Getafe on Monday, and third-place Villarreal who now trail the champions by 13 points.

Yamal, who seems to have fully recovered from a groin issue which bothered him for several weeks earlier in the campaign as he struggled to hit top form, was at his effervescent best.

“It was a mix of everything. I wasn’t feeling good about myself, plus the (groin issue) as well, I wasn’t playing happy, and I think it showed,” Yamal told Movistar.

“For about a week or so now I’ve been feeling much better. It was that desire to smile while I was playing that I hadn’t felt for a long time, and now I’m happy. I’m happy playing and really content.”

The winger became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in La Liga in the 21st century at 18 years and 230 days old.

Yamal has now equalled his tally of 18 goals last season across all competitions, becoming the team’s top goalscorer and raising the one area of his game which called for improvement.

“I think that (I’ve improved over time), what happens is that people want me at 16 years old to score 100 goals and I’d like that too, but it’s very hard,” continued Yamal, with the match ball tucked under his arm.

“So (I’m improving) bit by bit, but I’m very happy, when it’s a goal, or two goals, to help the team.”

Flick said Yamal had lacked some confidence earlier in the season.

“The opposition (have been) playing two or three players against him. You could feel he didn’t have the confidence or the dynamic for these one-on-one situations,” Flick told reporters.

“When he enjoys playing football it’s perfect for him and also for us.”

Jules Kounde fired wide early on and Yamal tested Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior from distance, offering a brief glimpse of what was soon to follow.

Barca took the lead when Fermin Lopez won the ball high up the pitch and fed Yamal, who curled home after 28 minutes.

- The Yamal show -

Yamal’s second followed nine minutes later, a stunning individual goal after he drove in from the right.

The teenager left Sergi Cardona and Alberto Moleiro for dead and then whipped a strike into the far top corner.

Dani Olmo wasted a good chance early in the second half and soon paid the price as Villarreal pulled one back when Gueye turned home from close range after a corner.

The Yellow Submarine nearly had a second when Joan Garcia came flying out of his goal but Ayoze Perez shot wide with the goalkeeper stranded.

Yamal bent another shot agonisingly wide from the edge of the box as he chased his first ever treble, which eventually came after substitute Pedri played him in with an inch-perfect pass.

The teenager beat Luiz Junior with a clinical finish and was given an ovation when Flick brought him off shortly afterwards.

“It’s hard to stop such a brilliant player,” said Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral of Yamal.

“The third goal was very bad defending from us… We gave him a motorway (to run into) and if you give a motorway to Lamine it’s normal he scores against you.”

Lewandowski netted Barca’s fourth after good work from Pedri and Kounde, who had one of his best games of the season.

Scoring four goals – at least – is what Barca need to do as they host Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, aiming to overcome a 4-0 deficit.

“Against Atletico it’s not easy, these four goals, but we will fight (to progress) and never give up,” said Flick.

“Lamine (being) on this level is fantastic for us and we need him on this level on Tuesday.”