Barcelona ground out a hard-fought 2-1 win at El Sadar in the most dramatic of fashions — two goals in the final ten minutes after a toothless first 80. Robert Lewandowski headed home in the 81st minute, Ferran Torres sealed it moments later, and Raul Garcia's header set up a nervy finish. Barcelona are on the brink.
HOW IT PLAYED OUT
For 80 minutes this was Barcelona at their most frustrating. Osasuna sat in a deep 4-2-3-1 block and were unbeaten in their last ten home games — and they looked every inch a team that knew how to hold a compact shape. Barca dominated possession but created little. Joan Garcia was rarely tested. Gavi was booked in the 24th minute for a cynical foul trying to stop a counter. Pedri tried everything to connect the lines but the front players had no answers. Flick threw on Rashford, Lewandowski and Torres in a triple substitution at the hour mark.
It changed everything. Rashford drove to the byline and delivered a precise cross in the 81st minute. Lewandowski timed his run perfectly inside the box, got away from his marker, and headed home — his 18th La Liga goal of the season. Five minutes later Fermin played Torres through on goal and The Shark finished crisply across Sergio Herrera to make it 2-0. The tie looked dead. Then Raul Garcia headed home an Osasuna cross in stoppage time to make it 2-1 and set up eight minutes of nervy pressure. Barcelona survived. The final whistle came to enormous relief.
LINEUPS
Osasuna (4-2-3-1): Herrera; Rosier, Boyomo, Catena, Galan; Moncayola, Munoz; Ruben Garcia, Oroz, Raul Moro; Budimir. Sub: Raul Garcia.
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Eric Garcia, Cubarsí, Gerard Martin, Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Bardghji, Olmo, Fermin; Ferran Torres. Subs: Rashford, Lewandowski, Torres (all 60').
WHAT IT MEANS
Barcelona move 14 points clear of Real Madrid — temporarily — with four games left. If Madrid fail to beat Espanyol tomorrow, Barcelona are confirmed La Liga champions. If Madrid win, the gap stays at 11 with four games to play and the title is confirmed at the latest in El Clasico on May 10. Either way, Barcelona are champions in waiting. Without Yamal, Raphinha and Kounde — all absent tonight — Flick found a way to win ugly. That is the mark of champions.
