Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Two goals within sixteen minutes from the Brazilian allow Hansi Flick’s side to edge past disciplined visitors
Barcelona were made to wait, but Raphinha eventually did the heroics as the league leaders wore down a disciplined Osasuna to move seven points clear at the top of La Liga.
For 70 minutes, Hansi Flick’s side dominated at the Camp Nou but were unable to break the deadlock. Osasuna defended deep, leaving Barcelona struggling to carve out clear chances.
Raphinha, who has missed two months through injury this season, fired on the 70th minute, receiving Pedri’s pass and driving a low shot into the corner from the edge of the box as the home side breathed a huge sigh of relief. Sixteen minutes later, he sealed the points with a simple finish at the far post after a deflection from Jules Kounde’s cross dropped kindly to him.
Flick’s side had initially thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half. Ferran Torres timed his run well and nodded home from Marcus Rashford’s lofted pass, only for VAR to intervene. Raphinha was judged to have been offside earlier in the move but it was marginal.
Torres later glanced a first-time effort over from Lamine Yamal’s inviting cross, while Yamal himself repeatedly tested Sergio Herrera, who was forced into sharp saves to keep out the winger. Rashford also saw a free kick turned away after the break as Barcelona continued to apply pressure.
Osasuna were passive but they had their moments. Ante Budimir could have scored in the first half but perhaps their best opportunity was early in the second half when Victor Munoz scorched past Alejandro Balde and had a clear sight of goal, only to drag his shot wide with Joan Garcia at his mercy.
“We controlled the match,” Flick said at the end, after Raphinha’s brace had settled the contest. “We did a good job defensively. Maybe we didn’t have many chances, but we scored two goals and got the three points.”
