Barcelona 1-0 Osasuna: Barcelona did not deal with Osasuna’s ten men until late on Tuesday evening. Led by a strong playing Frenkie de Jong, the Catalans took the next victory.
Barça overcame title jitters late with late goal by Jordi Alba
At home, Barcelona started again with De Jong as midfielder, the Orange international sprinkled passes as usual. However, he also had one of the best chances. Ten minutes after the break, he appeared alone in front of the keeper, but Aitor Fernández kept his goal clean with a reflex.
Before that, Osasuna, coming out next Saturday in the cup final against Real Madrid, was left with ten men. The debuting Jorge Herrando pulled down the broken Pedri after a pass from De Jong and was allowed to leave with a red card. Barça was already the parent and that was even more so after the red card.
Yet Osasuna held out for a long time. A goal by Robert Lewandowski was rejected ten minutes before the end due to offside, but a few minutes later it was hit. Substitute Jordi Alba hit with the outside of his foot after an assist from De Jong.
Another milestone win for the Catalans
After the home win over Osasuna, Barcelona is again a record richer and has the prospect of another milestone in La Liga. Trainer Xavi Hernández felt that his team made it unnecessarily difficult for itself against the finalist in the Copa del Rey tournament.
Barcelona won at home on Tuesday thanks to a late goal from Jordi Alba, who scored on a pass from Frenkie de Jong. Osasuna played with a man less from the 26th minute due to a red card for Jorge Herrando.
“In the end, we suffered too much during this match,” Xavi concluded after the victory to Spanish media. “Osasuna defended well, but we missed the necessary chances. Fortunately, Jordi’s shot fell in. This victory is another very important step towards the title.”
Milestones
Barcelona recorded a 1-0 win against Osasuna for the eleventh time this season. If Barça wins 1-0 in their remaining five league games, the club will have a La Liga record richer: the most 1-0 wins in one season. Sevilla (2020/21), Atlético Madrid (2017/18) and Valencia (1988/89) also came to eleven 1-0 league victories in one year in the past.
Barcelona has already gained another record after the victory over Osasuna: goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen kept a clean sheet at home for the fifteenth time this season. The record in La Liga was fourteen home games without a goal against: Real Valladolid (1987/88) and Real Sociedad (2021/22).
Barça is now fourteen points ahead of Real Madrid, which lost to Real Sociedad on Tuesday. The Catalans will play the championship match against fellow townsman Espanyol on May 14. Real plays against Getafe a day earlier.
