Barcelona secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Osasuna at the Camp Nou, propelled by a standout performance from skipper Raphinha, who scored both goals to extend their lead at the top of the LaLiga table to seven points ahead of rivals Real Madrid. The Brazil international found the net in the 70th and 86th minutes, capping off a hard-fought victory that marked their fifth consecutive win across all competitions since a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League.
Despite dominating possession for most of the match, Barça struggled to penetrate Osasuna’s defense early on. Goalkeeper Sergio Herrera was a standout performer for the visitors, making notable saves, including two from youngster Lamine Yamal and another from a fierce free-kick by Marcus Rashford.
The match started with Barcelona on the front foot, but their early attempts were thwarted. Ferran Torres thought he had found the net in the 23rd minute, only for his header to be disallowed after a VAR review deemed Raphinha offside in the buildup. The frustration continued as Osasuna’s Ante Budimir nearly capitalized on a defensive lapse, but goalkeeper Joan García was able to deny the threat.
After halftime, the game carried on with Barça maintaining pressure. Despite Herrera’s heroics in goal, Barcelona finally broke the deadlock with Raphinha’s shot into the bottom corner following an assist from Pedri. Raphinha then added a second goal late in the game, tapping in from a cross that had initially been intercepted.
Raphinha expressed confidence in his team’s performance, stressing the importance of focusing on their games rather than their competitors, as they look to maintain their impressive run in LaLiga. With Madrid set to face Alaves in their next match, Barcelona’s triumph serves as a timely reminder of their current form, reinforcing their position as the league leaders.