Barcelona moved to the brink of the LaLiga title with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Osasuna at Estadio El Sadar.
Targets from Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres within the closing phases secured all three factors for the guests, earlier than a late Osasuna response arrange a tense finale.
The outcome leaves Barcelona 14 factors clear on the prime of the desk, with the title now inside touching distance relying on Real Madrid’s outcome in opposition to Espanyol.
Osasuna threaten in even first half
Regardless of Barcelona dominating possession early on, Osasuna created the clearer probabilities earlier than the break.
Ante Budimir was on the coronary heart of their attacking menace, hanging the bottom of the put up with an creative effort earlier than forcing a powerful save from Joan Garcia moments later.
Barcelona’s greatest alternative fell to Lewandowski, however the striker fired over from shut vary, summing up a comparatively subdued attacking show from the guests within the opening 45 minutes.
Barcelona modifications flip the sport
The match remained finely poised after the restart, with Dani Olmo denied from shut vary by a vital block from Alejandro Catena.
Supervisor Hansi Flick turned to his bench in quest of a breakthrough, and the modifications proved decisive.
Marcus Rashford, launched simply after the hour mark, made an instantaneous influence. His supply from the appropriate wing within the 81st minute discovered Lewandowski, who powered a header into the underside nook to interrupt the impasse.
5 minutes later, Barcelona doubled their benefit. Fermín López threaded a exact cross by means of the defence, permitting Ferran Torres to calmly slot the ball by means of the goalkeeper’s legs.
Late Osasuna aim units up nervy end
Osasuna responded rapidly to maintain the competition alive. Substitute Abel Bretones delivered a cross from the left, and Raul Garcia rose unmarked to move previous Joan Garcia and cut back the deficit.
The hosts pushed ahead in quest of an equaliser throughout eight minutes of added time, however Barcelona held on to safe a vital win.
