Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna

Barcelona kept the chasing pack in La Liga at bay yesterday with an eventual 2-0 over Osasuna. The Catalans dominated the game as expected but key chances were few and far between because the away side set up completely to prevent Barcelona from scoring. Many have however tried that and failed, and they were no exception as Raphinha struck twice to give Barca all 3 points and a nice cushion at the top of the table. Pedri also made it 3 straight La Liga matches with an assist for the first time in his career.

Ferran Torres started up top in their 4231 set up with Marcus Rashford on the left, Lamine Yamal on the right and Raphinha in the number 10 position. Ante Budimir was up top in Osasuna’s 541 block with Aimar Oroz and ex Madrid player, Victor Munoz on the left and right flanks respectively.

From minute 1, the match at the Spotify Camp Nou began with an immediate burst of intensity as Barcelona looked to stamp their authority on the game early. The hosts wasted no time in testing the Osasuna defensive lines, and within just four minutes, they had fashioned their first significant opening. Ferran Torres, looking sharp in the opening exchanges, managed to enter the penalty area and unleashed a shot intended to catch the visitors cold. However, Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera was alert to the danger, making a crucial early save to thwart the attack and keeping the scoreline level in the opening moments.

The early pressure from Hansi Flick’s side continued to mount, and controversy arose just four minutes later. In the 8th minute, Marcus Rashford found himself in the thick of the action, going down in the box following a tussle with Osasuna defender Iñigo Arguibide. The home crowd and players appealed for a penalty, but referee Adrián Cordero Vega remained unmoved, waving away the protests and allowing play to continue despite the contact.

As the quarter-hour mark approached, the connection between Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres became a focal point of Barcelona’s attack, though it yielded frustration rather than goals. In the 15th minute, Yamal delivered a pacy, inswinging cross into the danger zone. Torres managed to connect with the delivery, but his effort lacked the necessary composure, as he prodded the ball over the bar when a goal seemed possible. Just three minutes later, the two combined again. Yamal sent a diagonal pass finding Torres in space, but a heavy touch from the forward forced him into a difficult shooting angle, and once again, the effort sailed over the crossbar.

While Barcelona dominated possession, Osasuna tried to spring a huge surprise. In the 20th minute, the visitors nearly stunned the Camp Nou with a shock lead. Ante Budimir showed great strength to swivel inside the area and fire a shot from close range, forcing Joan Garcia into a sharp, straight save to deny what would have been a disastrous opener for the hosts.

The frustration for Barcelona peaked in the 22nd minute during a chaotic sequence that saw the ball actually end up in the net. Following a short-corner routine, Marcus Rashford chipped a delicate delivery towards Ferran Torres, who rose to head the ball beautifully into the top corner. The celebrations were cut short, however, as VAR intervened. Upon review, the goal was ruled out due to an offside position against Raphinha earlier in the build-up, keeping the game scoreless and adding to the growing tension inside the stadium.

The physical battle intensified as the half wore on, with Osasuna’s Abel Bretones receiving the first yellow card of the match in the 35th minute for a cynical shirt-pull in midfield to break up play.

Barcelona continued to push for a legitimate opener, and in the 40th minute, Lamine Yamal produced a moment of magic to set up Torres yet again. Attempting to match the creativity of the assist, Torres tried an acrobatic overhead kick, but the spectacular effort flew just wide of the post. Deep in stoppage time, Yamal took matters into his own hands, forcing a good save from Herrera. The rebound fell invitingly to Torres, who nearly poked it home, only to be denied at the very last second, ensuring the teams went into the break deadlocked at 0–0.

The second half resumed with Osasuna making a tactical adjustment, as Iker Muñoz replaced Lucas Torró in midfield. Barcelona immediately looked to re-establish their dominance, and in the 48th minute, Marcus Rashford struck a rasping free-kick that required another intervention from Herrera, who beat the ball away to safety.

Despite the home side’s pressure, Osasuna remained a threat on the break. In the 49th minute, Víctor Muñoz utilized his pace to get behind the Barcelona defense, cracking a shot that went wide of the goal, a warning sign that the visitors were still very much in the contest. The match became increasingly scrappy, with substitute Iker Muñoz picking up a booking in the 59th minute for a foul on Pedri.

Sensing the need for fresh legs, Osasuna made a triple substitution in the 64th minute, bringing on Sheraldo Becker, Raúl García, and Rubén García to replace Víctor Muñoz, Ante Budimir, and Aimar Oroz. Shortly after, Jon Moncayola entered the referee’s book for a bad foul as the defensive intensity ramped up. Raphinha, who had been quiet regarding shots on goal until this point, attempted a long-range effort from over 35 yards in the 68th minute. The ambitious strike was close but ultimately missed the top right corner.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 70th minute, and the relief around the stadium was palpable. Following a fast break that caught Osasuna seemingly off guard, Pedri provided the assist for Raphinha. The Brazilian winger collected the ball and arrowed a precise left-footed shot from outside the box, burying it into the bottom corner to give Barcelona a 1–0 lead.

With the lead secured, Hansi Flick looked to manage the game, introducing Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López in the 74th minute for Rashford and Pau Cubarsí. Barcelona continued to hunt for a second goal to kill the game off. In the 80th minute, Lamine Yamal curled a goal-bound effort towards the net, but the impressive Herrera was there again to parry it away.

The victory was finally sealed in the 85th minute. Jules Koundé sent a ball into the penalty area, which came off a failed clearance by Alejandro Catena, and Raphinha was perfectly positioned at the far post. He tapped it home for his second of the night, making it 2–0 and securing the three points. Late substitutions saw Roony Bardghji, Marc Casadó, and Andreas Christensen given a run-out in place of Pedri, Raphinha, and Alejandro Balde , before the final whistle blew on a hard-fought victory that extended Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table.