Raphinha scored twice to hand Barcelona a 2-0 victory over Osasuna on Saturday, moving the champions seven points clear at the top of La Liga.
Although Barcelona lacked their usual sharpness, they controlled possession and showed patience. As a result, they secured their seventh consecutive league win and recorded their first clean sheet in six matches across all competitions.
Breakthrough Comes After Frustrating First Half
Barcelona created early chances but failed to convert them. Ferran Torres fired over the bar after connecting with Lamine Yamal’s dangerous cross. At the other end, Ante Budimir tested goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who responded confidently.
Meanwhile, Yamal tried his luck from distance twice, but Osasuna’s defence remained compact. As the half progressed, Barcelona struggled to find space and went into the break level.
Second-Half Goals Seal the Win
After the restart, Barcelona increased the tempo. Marcus Rashford forced a save from Sergio Herrera with a curling free-kick, signalling growing pressure.
Eventually, the breakthrough arrived in the 70th minute. Pedri found Raphinha on the edge of the box, and the Brazilian smashed a low shot into the bottom corner.
Osasuna briefly thought they had equalised through Jorge Herrando. However, the referee ruled out the effort after a foul on Garcia.
Soon after, Barcelona wrapped up the victory. Jules Kounde’s cross deflected kindly into Raphinha’s path, and he tapped home from close range to complete his brace.
Barcelona Strengthen Title Push
The win marked Barcelona’s fifth straight home victory at the partially reopened Camp Nou. More importantly, it strengthened their grip on the title race ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Alaves.
Defender Gerard Martin praised the team’s discipline, noting that patience and a clean sheet played a key role. Raphinha’s display, meanwhile, highlighted his growing influence since returning from injury.
