FC Barcelona 3-0 Osasuna: Three points clear
FC Barcelona have confidently won the game they had in hand, the one postponed following the shock news of the passing of Dr Carles Miñarro, and it means they move three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table, while no fewer than seven now separate them from Atlético Madrid.
It was another commanding performance from the Catalans, who remain unbeaten in 2025, with Osasuna outplayed practically from the first to the last minute and Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski claiming the goals.
Difficult date
The difficulties with this rearranged fixture coming right on the back of international week certainly conditioned Hansi Flick’s selection, with Raphinha not even in the squad and Lewandowski sitting on the bench. But the unusual circumstances also hit Osasuna, with target man Ante Budimir among the visiting players left out of the starting line-up.
Shark attack
The Navarrans were the side that broke Barça’s 7-match winning start to the season, but the chances of them breaking a similar spree, up to eight games thanks to today, were soon cut short when Ferran Torres found the net after just 11 minutes. Eight goals and counting from the Valencian this season, who would also hit the crossbar later on.
A series of snappy passes was capped by a killer pass from Alejandro Balde, and Torres was quicker to meet the ball than anyone around him. Barça were off to the perfect start.
Agony, joy and agony for Olmo
The lead was doubled just ten minutes later. Osasuna keeper Sergio Herrera clipped Dani Olmo in the box, and that was a penalty. Olmo himself took the kick, and although Herrera saved it, the Barça man was given a second chance when the VAR room spotted some severe encroachment into the blaugrana area.
No mistake this time, and that was 2-0, although Olmo’s joy quickly turned to frustration when he had to retire injured. We'll need to wait until tomorrow for the full details on that one, but speaking after the game, Flick worrying described the situation as "not good."
Lewy makes it three
Barça looked utterly comfortable, trying not to overexert themselves with a marathon of big fixtures in the weeks to come, while Osasuna, who might have started the season nicely but now have just one win from their last 16 outings, put up very little threat at the other end.
Any concern that the visitors might be able to conjure up some kind of response was laid to rest after 77 minutes. Fermin Lopez, on for Olmo, was the cornerstone of a lightning counter attack, and Lewandowski, who was only on for a testimonial last few minutes, was there to head yet another goal for his booming collection. Give that man the Pichichi trophy already!
All in all, a thoroughly solid performance, and hopefully there’s more of the same to come on Sunday when Barça host Girona in the Catalan derby.
Eight wins in a row... now let's go for nine!