Barcelona extended their unbeaten streak to 19 matches and moved three points clear at the top of La Liga with a dominant 3-0 victory over Osasuna at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The win, in their rescheduled fixture, puts pressure on Real Madrid in the title race and gives Barcelona momentum heading into a crucial stretch of the season.
Fast Start from Barcelona
Despite the absence of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski from the starting lineup, Barcelona wasted no time asserting control. Ferran Torres, making the most of his opportunity in the XI, opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a clinical finish from Alejandro Balde’s low cross. It was a well-worked team goal, with Frenkie de Jong playing Balde in behind before the left-back set up Torres for his 14th goal of the season.
Just ten minutes later, Barcelona doubled their advantage through Dani Olmo. The Spanish midfielder won a penalty after being fouled by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera. Though Herrera initially saved Olmo’s spot-kick, VAR detected encroachment from an Osasuna defender, allowing Olmo a second attempt. This time, he made no mistake, slotting the ball into the bottom corner to put Barça in firm control.
However, Olmo’s night ended prematurely as he was forced off with a suspected groin injury before the half-hour mark. The summer signing has endured a frustrating season with injuries, and his latest setback could see him miss crucial upcoming fixtures. Fermin López replaced him, looking to seize his chance for more first-team minutes.
Barcelona's Control and Osasuna’s Missed Opportunity
Despite their two-goal cushion, Barcelona continued to press forward, with Torres coming close to a second when his free kick struck the crossbar just before halftime.
Osasuna, struggling to create clear chances, nearly found a lifeline early in the second half when Jorge Herrando headed narrowly wide from close range. That proved to be their best opportunity of the match, as Barcelona quickly regained control.
Looking to seal the victory, Hansi Flick introduced Robert Lewandowski from the bench. The Polish striker, La Liga’s top scorer this season, needed little time to make an impact. In the 66th minute, he connected with a pinpoint cross from Fermin López, heading past Herrera to make it 3-0 and effectively kill the game.
Key Performances and Title Race Implications
Torres and Lamine Yamal were instrumental in Barcelona’s attacking display. While Torres scored and came close to adding more, Yamal was a constant menace down the right flank. The teenager led the team in chances created and completed seven dribbles, tearing apart the Osasuna defence.
This result sees Barcelona maintain their status as the only unbeaten team in Europe’s top five leagues in 2025. The victory also serves as revenge for their defeat to Osasuna in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
With ten matches remaining, Barcelona hold a three-point lead over Real Madrid and a seven-point cushion over Atlético Madrid. Their next challenge comes against high-flying Girona, and with Olmo’s injury adding to Flick’s selection headaches, the squad's depth will be tested in the weeks ahead.
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