Osasuna vs Barcelona, La Liga: Final Score 4-2, Barça’s perfect start ends with awful defeat on the road
A dreadful performance and a very bad loss
Barcelona’s Unblemished Record Shattered
Osasuna delivered a stunning 4-2 blow to Barcelona’s perfect season at El Sadar Stadium. Hansi Flick’s men were outmaneuvered and outplayed by an Osasuna side that mastered the art of counter-attacking.
Early Struggles
Osasuna’s relentless press caught Barcelona off guard, yielding a plethora of turnovers and scoring chances. Ante Budimir capitalized on a lightning-fast break to draw first blood. Barcelona’s depleted lineup, missing Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, struggled to mount meaningful offenses.
Osasuna’s relentless pressure paid off again as Bryan Zaragoza exploited a defensive lapse to double the lead. Barcelona’s halftime struggles were a testament to their inability to contain Osasuna’s pace.
Second-Half Resurgence
Flick’s halftime rallying cry ignited a renewed sense of urgency in Barcelona. Robert Lewandowski was denied by Sergio Herrera’s acrobatic save, but the goalkeeper’s subsequent blunder allowed Pau Víctor to halve the deficit.
Despite fervent attempts to equalize, Barcelona were repeatedly thwarted by Osasuna’s stout defense. Ferran Torres’s dazzling solo effort was miraculously saved by Herrera, setting the stage for Osasuna’s decisive counter.
Budimir’s penalty kick restored Osasuna’s two-goal cushion after Sergi Domínguez’s foul. Abel Bretones’s thunderous strike sealed the victory, leaving Barcelona reeling. Yamal’s stoppage-time goal provided scant consolation.
Barcelona’s humbling defeat underscored the need for squad depth amidst an injury crisis.
Key Takeaways:
- Osasuna’s high-pressing strategy paid dividends
- Barcelona missed Yamal and Raphinha’s impact
- Flick’s adjustments sparked fleeting momentum
- Osasuna’s counter-attacks proved decisive
- Barcelona’s injury woes were exposed
Osasuna: Herrera; Areso (Herrando 84’), Catena, Boyomo, Cruz (Vidal 84’); Ibáñez, Torró; Bryan (Bretones 77’), Aimar, García (Peña 58’); Budimir (García 77’)
Goals: Budimir (18’, pen 72’), Bryan (28’), Bretones (85’)
Barcelona: Peña; Kounde, Domínguez (Fort 85’), Cubarsí, Martín (Balde 70’); Torre (Raphinha 59’), Eric, Pedri; Ferran, Lewandowski (Casadó 70’), Víctor (Yamal 59’)
Goals: Víctor (53’), Yamal (89’)