Vitor Roque got on the scoresheet after heading Joao Cancelo’s wonderful cross towards the near post.
Barcelona moved up to third in La Liga with a 1-0 win over Osasuna on Wednesday as Javi Hernández began a long sabbatical as champion coach. The manager said he would step down at the end of the season after last weekend’s crushing defeat left the Catalans 11 points behind leaders Girona. Young Brazilian striker Vitor Roque scored his first goal for the club as Barcelona were reduced to eight goals in a crushing defeat to the mid-table visitors. Osasuna defender Unai Garcia was sent off for two yellow cards, but Barcelona could not put the game away. Catalonia have played one more game but are seven points behind second-placed Real.
“It’s good to win, but it was difficult considering where we came from. Osasuna put in a lot of effort and the most important thing was to add at least three points,” Pedri told DAZN.”La Liga is complicated, but we’ve seen things get worse. “I’ll add 3 out of 3 points and see if the leaders are wrong,” he said.Xavi’s side, who led Barcelona to the La Liga title last season, slumped and crashed out of the Copa del Rey last January and lost to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Xavi hoped his decision would change the team’s dynamic and said he would fight to win La Liga and the Champions League. But his first-half performance was less encouraging than at any other time in his two-year tenure.The coach brought Ferran Torres back into the squad after Saturday’s 5-3 defeat to Villarreal, which was the final straw to signal his impending move.
However, the Spaniard limped off minutes later and was replaced by midfielder Fermin Lopez.Robert Lewandowski headed home Ilkay Gundogan’s corner and Aitor Fernandez saved Lopez’s powerful corner.
16-year-old winger Lamin Yamal, making his fourth Barcelona start in 11 days, headed in a wonderful cross that Gundogan should have scored.Some fans brought the cold Olympic stadium to life, chanting Xavi’s name and sending coach Roque off.
little tiger The 18-year-old, nicknamed Tigrinho the Little Tiger, got on the scoresheet straight away, heading at the near post after an excellent ball from Cancelo.Roque’s next tackle was a foul on Garcia, who was sent off for dragging the forward. Barcelona took advantage of the extra space as Yamal stretched Fernandes’ defense and blocked his subsequent attack.Substitute Raul García won the ball upfield for Osasuna and fired just wide as Jagoba Arasate’s side went close. Osasuna coach Arasate said: “If there’s one thing this team has, it’s confidence. We worked hard until the end, but it’s disappointing that we couldn’t even get a draw.”Lewandowski headed home a second for Barcelona but was ruled out for clear offside and the hosts went into the closing stages to hang on with three points. “I think Vitor brings a lot of pace to the game. He scores goals and brings us a lot.” Pedri said.”He’s always free and that’s important for midfielders.”
After Wednesday, fourth-placed Atletico Madrid face neighbors Rayo Vallecano in a derby as they look to move back ahead of Barcelona on goal difference.
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