Barcelona defeated Osasuna 2-1 at El Sadar on Sunday to win their third La Liga game in a row and head into the international break unscathed. The Blaugrana were fortunate to overcome Osasuna, who were stronger than them, but Robert Lewandowski’s late penalty gave the reigning champions three crucial points in Pamplona.
FIRST HALF
Barça might have scored a minute into the game when Frenkie De Jong, Ilkay Gündogan, and Robert Lewandowski wasted a triple opportunity inside the box. The Blaugrana were eager to start quickly and dominate on the road.
After the early chances, the Catalans opted for plodding and unimaginative passing in midfield, allowing Osasuna plenty of time to set up their defense, remain organized, and shut down areas to prevent problems.
Barça’s offense only came alive when Lamine Yamal touched the ball and rushed at defenders, but the teenager had few opportunities to attack his opponent and instead watched his colleagues transfer the ball sideways without any impact in the final third.
However, Osasuna understood what to do with the ball and quickly sent bodies forward and created danger with rapid passing and good movement off the ball. They had two good opportunities, and Marc-André ter Stegen had to block a José Arnaiz deflected shot and prevent a seemingly certain goal by Aimar Oroz.
Gündogan sent a corner into the box, and Jules Kounde jumped high in the air and scored a beautiful header to give Barça the lead in the final play before halftime.
At halftime, the Catalans were behind but ahead, but they needed to improve to score more goals and win.
SECOND HALF
In the final session, Osasuna planned to not surrender an early goal and progressively press higher up the field to score an equalizer. The approach succeeded since the home side kept in a low block and enabled Barça to have more plodding, monotonous possession that resulted in no obvious opportunites. After the 60th minute, the hosts started attacking more and putting more men forward.
With a half-hour left, Barça introduced Ferran Torres and João Cancelo to boost their offense, but they struggled to maintain possession and made several mistakes in midfield. Cancelo nearly scored in his debut by setting up Lewandowski, but he was offside.
In the last 20 minutes, the game was open and Osasuna were the superior team, so it came down to whether Barça could score a second by probing the space behind before the home team found an equalizer.
The hosts scored the equalizer after Chimy Ávila received a pass outside the box and had time to find a shot. Despite five Barça defenders watching, the striker fired a beautiful strike that hit the post and gave the hosts a well-deserved goal.
Barça needed 15 minutes plus stoppage time to find a winner. Xavi Hernández made a move to introduce João Félix for Oriol Romeu, making him the team’s first attacking player.
With Félix on the field, Barça had a wonderful chance to score when Alejandro Catena was sent off for pulling down Lewandowski inside the area. Barça led with 10 men in the closing minutes as Lewandowski calmly converted the penalty.
Osasuna had nothing to lose and threw caution to the wind to get a second equalizer, and they had some threatening set pieces. However, the Barça defense avoided significant problems, and the front players kept the ball to run out the clock.
After 11 minutes of stoppage time, Barça won despite being outplayed. After a tough month on and off the field, Lewandowski delivered when it most, giving Barça 10 points from 12.
Things might be worse, therefore scoring points and building teamwork is beneficial. When Barça eventually play well this season, this bunch may be promising.
Osasuna: Aitor (Areso 80′), Catena, Herrando, Cruz, Ibáñez (Moncayola 72′), Muñoz, García (Barja 62′), Aimar, Arnaiz (Ávila 62′), Raúl (Budimir 62′).
Ávila (76m) scored the goal.
Catena (84:) red card
Barcelona: Ter Stegen (Roberto 59′), Kounde, Christensen (Iñigo 90’+1), Balde, Romeu, De Jong, Yamal, Gündogan, Gavi, Lewandowski (Raphinha 90+1′).
Kounde (45’+1), Lewnadowski (86′ pen) had goals.