Raphinha waits. Then kills it. Barça pull away
Patience rewarded at Camp Nou
Barcelona tightened their grip on the LaLiga title race as two late goals from captain Raphinha secured a 2–0 victory over Osasuna and opened up a seven-point gap at the summit.
Hansi Flick’s side dominated possession from start to finish, but for long spells looked in danger of being punished for their lack of cutting edge.
Herrera stands tall
Osasuna arrived with a clear plan and executed it brilliantly for 70 minutes. Goalkeeper Sergio Herrera was outstanding, denying Lamine Yamal twice either side of half-time and frustrating Barcelona’s frontline as wave after wave of attacks broke down.
Despite relentless pressure, Barça went into the interval still level and visibly irritated by their inability to turn control into goals.
VAR frustration and near misses
Barcelona thought they had the breakthrough midway through the first half when Ferran Torres nodded home Marcus Rashford’s clever ball over the top. Celebrations were cut short after a lengthy VAR review ruled Raphinha offside in the buildup.
Osasuna even threatened an upset when Víctor Muñoz raced clear early in the second half, only to drag his shot wide after a rare mistake from Pedri.
The captain steps up
With tension rising inside Camp Nou, Raphinha finally delivered. In the 70th minute, he collected Pedri’s pass and drilled a low finish into the corner to break Osasuna’s resistance.
The goal released the pressure and allowed Barcelona to play with freedom once more.
Late seal and title statement
Osasuna continued to fight, but the result was put beyond doubt four minutes from time. After Jules Koundé’s cross caused chaos, Raphinha arrived at the far post to tap home his second and seal a fifth straight win in all competitions.
The victory leaves Barcelona seven points clear of Real Madrid, who now face mounting pressure ahead of their trip to Alavés.
Focus remains internal
Despite the growing gap, Raphinha was quick to downplay the title talk. Barcelona may still have work to do, but on nights like this, their leaders are making the difference when it matters most.
