Raphinha’s second-half double propelled Barcelona to a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Osasuna on Saturday, extending their La Liga lead to seven points. The Brazilian’s clinical finishes overcame a resilient visiting side, marking the champions’ seventh consecutive top-flight win.
The match, played at the partially reopened Camp Nou—Barcelona’s fifth straight triumph there—saw the hosts dominate possession but struggle for incision until late breakthroughs. Raphinha broke the deadlock after 70 minutes with a powerful edge-of-the-box strike into the bottom corner, assisted by Pedri’s forward surge.
He sealed the result in the 86th minute, tapping home at the far post after Jules Koundé’s cross deflected off Osasuna defender Alejandro Catena. The brace highlighted Raphinha’s versatility, deployed centrally in attacking midfield despite his natural wide role.
Barcelona defender Gerard Martin praised the patience: “(The win) has a lot of merit, they were well organised, it was hard to find a way through. With patience and a lot of possession, we finally did it. A clean sheet gives stability to the team, and then the goals always come.”
The result marked Barcelona’s first shutout in six matches across competitions, a defensive solidity absent in recent outings. Second-placed Real Madrid, trailing by seven points, visit Alavés on Sunday with an opportunity to narrow the gap to four.
Hans Flick’s side lacked early fluency. Ferran Torres, preferred upfront over Robert Lewandowski following his midweek hat-trick against Real Betis, spurned chances—including a disallowed header for offside and an overhead kick inches wide. Lamine Yamal tested Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, while Joan García denied Ante Budimir.
Osasuna threatened on counters but saw Jorge Herrando’s effort ruled out for a foul on García. Herrera saved a Marcus Rashford free-kick early in the second half.
Raphinha, instrumental in last season’s domestic treble before injury, has reintegrated seamlessly. Martin noted: “We’ve got a lot of good players and Rapha, or whoever else plays inside, in the end, they give us a lot of solutions in that position.”
The victory consolidates Barcelona’s position atop La Liga with 39 points from 16 matches, showcasing resilience amid a demanding schedule. As Madrid chase, the Catalans demonstrate title credentials through grinding results when flair eludes them.
