Reigning champions Barcelona achieved a difficult victory over host Osasuna 2-1 on Sunday evening, at the end of the fourth phase of the Spanish league football, which saw the postponement of the confrontation between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla due to bad weather.
Barcelona opened the scoring through French defender Jules Conde with a header (45 + 1), and Osasuna equalized with the goal of Argentine Ezequiel Avila (76), before the Catalan club settled the match with a penalty kick obtained by Poland's Robert Lewandowski and successfully translated (85).
The match saw the expulsion in the 84th minute with a direct red card for Osasuna defender Alejandro Catina, who caused the penalty.
With this result, Barcelona remained in third place with 10 points, two points behind leaders Real Madrid, and goal difference from second-placed Girona. Osasuna remained ninth with 6 points.
At Al Sadar Stadium, the match began with a pressure attack from Barcelona through German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Lewandowski from the first minute.
The series of wasting chances for the Catalan club continued through Al-Amin Jamal, who shot a ball inside the area that bounced off the goalkeeper in front of Gundogan, who re-shot strangely (10).
Summary of Barcelona's hard-fought win against Osasuna đș #OsasunaBarça 1-2 pic.twitter.com/9c9qTx4iuV
â LALIGA (@LaLigaArab) September 3, 2023
Osasuna's first threat came in the 23rd minute with a powerful shot from JosĂ© ArnaĂs inside the area, which was brilliantly saved by German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The give and take continued until Conde rose to a corner from Gundogan and turned it in the goal with his head to the far right of the goalkeeper, opening the scoring for Barcelona (45 + 1).
Joao Cancelo, Barcelona's latest signing, came on as a substitute in the 59th minute.
Ăvila equalized for Osasuna in the 76th minute with a rocket shot from outside the area that touched the right post before inhabiting the net of Ter Stegen, who did not move a finger.
Coach Xavi Hernandez returned to the bench and brought on another Portuguese newcomer, Joao Felix, in the 80th minute.
The referee then awarded Barcelona a penalty in the 81st minute, following a tackle from Catina on Lewandowski inside the area.
The referee initially showed a yellow card to Katina, before turning her red after a VAR review that showed the defender prevented Lewandowski from solitary an investigator (84).
The Pole took the penalty and found the net to the left of goalkeeper Aitor Fernandes (85).
On the other hand, the Spanish Football League postponed the match Atletico Madrid and Sevilla due to bad weather and heavy rain expected in the Spanish capital.