Barcelona swept over Osasuna 4-0 on Sunday, with Ferran Torres scoring twice and Ousmane Dembele providing two assists to secure their fourth consecutive La Liga victory. Three goals in 14 minutes in the first half effectively ended the game as a battle, with Torres scoring twice, the first a penalty, and Aubameyang adding a third. With 15 minutes remaining, Riqui Puig sealed the victory.
Barca now sits in third position with 51 points, level with fourth-placed Atletico Madrid and five points behind second-placed Sevilla, but with a game in hand over their nearest rivals.
“We can compete with anyone if we play with this intensity,” Xavi Hernandez stated.
Match review: Barca youngsters shine on
Torres scored a penalty after Gavi was tripped from behind into the area 14 minutes into the contest. He doubled his tally seven minutes later, taking a fantastic cross from Dembele in behind the defence and beating the goalkeeper with a deft finish.
On the right flank, Dembele was unstoppable, and five minutes later, the French winger enabled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score Barcelona’s third goal from close range. In the 75th minute, substitute Riqui Puig struck the back of the net after collecting a rebound.
Xavi couldn’t disguise his pleasure when his Barcelona squad thrashed Osasuna 4-0 at the Camp Nou on Sunday in La Liga.
Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Riqui Puig all scored as the Catalans bounced back from a dismal stalemate against Galatasaray. Ousmane Dembele also had a handful of assists and excellent efforts all over the pitch in a fantastic display.
A happy coach keeps a team happy
Xavi said after the game that it was one of his team’s best performances since he took over from Ronald Koeman. “Ferran has scored goals wherever he’s gone,” says the coach “Xavi said. “And Auba is a divine gift.””
Despite the jeers of dissatisfied supporters in response to Ousmane Dembele’s refusal to sign a new contract, Xavi has successfully reintegrated the Frenchman.
The boos have died down now that Dembele has added two more assists against Osasuna and has played a major role in Barcelona’s recent surge.
With this Barcelona side currently playing the kind of slick, rapid, high-intensity game that looked unthinkable under Ronald Koeman, Xavi, who was appointed in November with Barcelona in ninth place, has to take credit.
After scoring twice in a 4-0 La Liga triumph over Osasuna at the Camp Nou on Sunday, Ferran Torres was happy to share his thoughts on Barcelona.
When asked about their preparations for the forthcoming El Classico against their bitter rivals Madrid on Sunday, the coach remarked, “I don’t think the league title is conceivable this season, Real Madrid is too far ahead.” “We have to keep winning while they have to lose three or four games,” he added.
Barcelona’s attention now shifts to two crucial games this week: a Europa League match against Galatasaray and the Clasico versus Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu next weekend.
The race to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League is heating up, with only four points separating Barcelona and Real Sociedad in sixth place.
Published By : VATSAL KOTHA
Edited By : KRITIKA KASHYAP
