Barcelona solidified their position at the top of La Liga with a convincing 3-0 victory over Osasuna. The win, which came despite the team’s discontent over the rescheduling of the match, moves Barcelona three points clear of their nearest rivals.
The Catalans’ appeal against the rescheduling of the game was rejected, but Hansi Flick’s side still managed to make light work of Osasuna. Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo netted in the first half, with Robert Lewandowski adding a third goal after the break.
As Torres noted in a post-match interview, “Every game is a final, so today’s was a final, it was important for us.” He also emphasized his growing comfort in his role, saying, “I try to take advantage of all minutes, many people say I’m an impact sub but I don’t consider myself that. I feel more and more comfortable up front, but I can play on the wing too.”
Barcelona controlled the game from the start, with Torres opening the scoring after 11 minutes. The goal was the result of a well-executed move, with Frenkie de Jong leading the way and Alejandro Balde providing a dangerous low ball into the six-yard box.
Osasuna’s Sergio Herrera saved well to deny Torres a second goal, but was unable to prevent Dani Olmo from scoring from the penalty spot midway through the first half. Although Herrera saved Olmo’s initial penalty, a re-take was ordered due to an Osasuna player encroaching, and Olmo made no mistake with his second attempt.
The second half was a relatively low-key affair, with Barcelona content to maintain their lead. However, Lewandowski added a third goal late on, nodding home from Fermin Lopez’s cross at the end of a quick break.
As Osasuna’s Ruben Garcia noted, “We’re not doing well, for a long time we’ve been down in the dumps. We faced a team that rolled over the top of us, we have to recognise that and try to do better.”
The win helps Barcelona maintain their momentum in La Liga, with the team now facing an intense run of nine games in 28 days across all competitions. As Flick’s side look to maintain their position at the top of the table, they will face stiff competition from rivals Real Madrid and Atletico.
In other La Liga matches, Atletico will visit Espanyol, while Real Madrid will host Leganes on Saturday. Barcelona will face Girona in a Catalan derby on Sunday.