FC Barcelona 4-0 Osasuna: Anniversary tribute win

On Barça’s 121^st birthday Camp Nou was bathed in sunshine for the early kick-off, with a minute’s silence for Diego Maradona perfectly observed before the action got underway. The first chance in a lively opening would arrive in the fifth minute as a perfect cross from Sergiño Dest was almost turned in by Martin Braithwaite.

On 10 minutes, a sharp move down the right which involved Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann saw Philippe Coutinho get a shot on target, but it was somehow kept out on the line by the covering defender.

Ferocious

The Brazilian and Frenchman would again be involved on 15, this time on the opposite side of the pitch, with Griezmann going close as Barça piled on the pressure.  Budomir should’ve done better for the visitors just after but was flagged offside in any event.

Barça’s pressure was eventually rewarded on the half hour, Braithwaite bundling the ball over the line to give the hosts the lead. A fantastic double save from Marc-André ter Stegen kept Ronald Koeman’s side ahead, before Griezmann unleashed a ferocious volley from outside the box to edge the Catalans further ahead before the break.

Pinpoint

The German goalkeeper was at full stretch in the first minute of the second half as Osasuna attempted to get straight back into the game, before play settled back down into a similar pattern as the first 45.

With 55 played, excellent work by Griezmann to win back the ball in the first instance and play a pinpoint cross in the second, left Coutinho with a tap in to make it 3-0. That was the cue for Ronald Koeman to make a triple change, with Trincão, Ousmane Dembélé and Junior Firpo taking centre-stage.

Unstoppable

Clément Lenglet’s ankle injury required him to leave the field and not long after, with Barça’s defence having not reorganised, Roberto Torres fired against the post for the visitors. Immediately after, Messi and Trincão looked to have combined for Dembélé to slide home a fourth on 68 minutes, however, the goal was ruled out by VAR after a delay.

Messi then took matters into his own hands, smashing home an unstoppable fourth before removing his shirt to reveal his own personal tribute to Diego Maradona. Late chances came and went for both sides before full time, but with no change to the score.