La Liga: Barcelona ride on Raphinha brace to beat Osasuna

Barcelona: Raphinha struck twice, late in the second half, as Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a resolute Osasuna side on Saturday, extending its lead at the top of La Liga standings to seven points.

Hansi Flick’s men now sit on 43 points, comfortably clear of second-placed Real Madrid, which has a game in hand and is set to play at Alaves on Sunday.

Barcelona dominated from the outset, enjoying an eye-watering 80 per cent possession and firing 24 shots compared to just three from Osasuna.

However, the visitor’s disciplined five-man defensive line, combined with several outstanding saves from goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, frustrated the home side for much of the match.

The Catalans thought they had broken the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Ferran Torres nodded home a looping header from Marcus Rashford’s cross after a short corner routine.

However, a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal out for a marginal offside in the build-up.

The best chance of the first half came in the 40th minute, as teenager Lamine Yamal darted down the right flank before delivering a pinpoint cross to Torres. The striker unleashed an audacious overhead kick but sent the ball wide of the far post.

Osasuna’s resilient back five held firm as Barcelona swarmed forward in the second half, with Rashford testing Herrera’s acrobatics from a free kick early after the interval.

Yamal remained a constant menace down the right, tirelessly driving at defenders, but the visiting side absorbed wave after wave of pressure.

Barcelona finally broke down Osasuna’s deep defensive block in the 70th minute when Pedri’s incisive pass cut through the visiting side’s defence, finding Raphinha in his stride.

The Brazilian forward took a controlled touch before unleashing a thunderous strike from the edge of the area, the ball arrowing inside the left post.

Raphinha sealed the win in the 86th minute. A deflected cross from Jules Kounde on the right found the Brazilian unmarked at the far post, and he calmly volleyed the ball into an empty net. Agencies

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