Barcelona strengthened their La Liga title defense with a 2-0 win against Osasuna at Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday, thanks to Raphinha's clinical second-half performance. The victory extends their lead to seven points over second-place Real Madrid, who face Alaves on Sunday.
Match Breakdown
The hosts dominated possession but struggled to break down a resilient Osasuna defense until the 70th minute. Raphinha finally broke the deadlock with a precise low finish from Pedri's assist, sparking celebrations among the home crowd.
The Brazilian doubled his tally in the 86th minute, tapping in after Jules Kounde's deflected cross fell kindly at the far post. Barcelona thought they'd scored earlier through Ferran Torres, but VAR disallowed the 23rd-minute header due to Raphinha's offside position during the buildup.
Key Statistics
- Barcelona attempted 21 shots compared to Osasuna's 3
- The Catalans have now won seven consecutive league matches
- Youngster Lamine Yamal recorded five unsuccessful attempts
Manager Reactions
"We knew it would be tough, but the team showed patience and quality when it mattered," said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick. "Raphinha's composure made the difference tonight."
Osasuna manager Jagoba Arrasate acknowledged his side's defensive effort: "We held firm for 70 minutes, but Barcelona's quality eventually told. We'll learn from this."
Barcelona's victory maintains their perfect home record when scoring first this season (W5, D0, L0), while Osasuna remain 16th in the table, hovering just above the relegation zone on goal difference.
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