Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Osasuna on Saturday at the Camp Nou, thanks to a late brace from Brazilian forward Raphinha. The win extends Barcelona’s lead at the top of the La Liga table to seven points over second-placed Real Madrid, giving Hansi Flick’s side a significant cushion in the title race.

Match Overview

From the first whistle, Barcelona dominated possession, controlling approximately 80% of the ball while firing 24 attempts on goal compared to just three from Osasuna. Despite this dominance, the visitors’ disciplined five-man defensive setup, along with remarkable goalkeeping from Sergio Herrera, kept the home side at bay for much of the match.

Barcelona initially thought they had opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Ferran Torres nodded home a looping header from a Marcus Rashford cross. However, a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal out for a marginal offside in the build-up.

Key Chances and First Half Action

The first half saw Barcelona continually testing Osasuna’s defense. In the 40th minute, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal made a darting run down the right wing, delivering a precise cross to Torres, who attempted a spectacular overhead kick, but the effort went wide.

Despite relentless pressure from Barcelona, Osasuna’s compact defensive structure and Herrera’s acrobatics kept the scoreline level going into halftime.

Raphinha Breaks the Deadlock

The deadlock was finally broken in the 70th minute. Pedri, orchestrating play from midfield, delivered a precise through ball that found Raphinha in space. The Brazilian forward controlled the ball beautifully before unleashing a thunderous strike from the edge of the penalty area, curling it inside the left post to give Barcelona the lead.

Raphinha doubled the advantage in the 86th minute. A deflected cross from Jules Kounde found the Brazilian unmarked at the far post, and he calmly volleyed the ball into the empty net, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory for the Catalan giants.

Player Performances

• Raphinha: Scored both goals, showcasing composure, precision, and finishing prowess.
• Lamine Yamal: Constantly troubled Osasuna’s defense with his pace and dribbling down the right flank.
• Ferran Torres: Came close to scoring twice, demonstrating aerial ability and attacking movement.
• Sergio Herrera (Osasuna GK): Made several outstanding saves, keeping the game competitive until Raphinha broke through.

Barcelona defender Gerard Martin praised Osasuna’s defensive resilience: “It’s very commendable what Osasuna did because they were very compact, and we struggled to break them down. But with patience and possession, goals always come, and we finally found them.”

Implications for La Liga

The victory cements Barcelona’s position as La Liga leaders, with 43 points, seven ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. With the title race heating up, this result provides Barcelona with crucial momentum as the season approaches the winter break.

Hansi Flick’s team will look to maintain their lead while preparing for upcoming fixtures against other top contenders, aiming to secure a strong advantage in the 2025-26 La Liga season.