A first loss of the season for Real Madrid presented the opportunity for Barça to cement their place at the peak of La Liga heading into the month-long FIFA World Cup intermission. However, in their way stood Osasuna, currently on their best points haul after 13 matches, and Jogabo Arrasate’s men began superbly with an opening goal inside six minutes. It was a tale of three García’s, as David lost his marker to head in Rubén’s corner, whilst the visitors were left furious that it was not ruled out because of Unai’s challenge on Marcos Alonso in the build up.
Soon it would go from bad to worse for La Blaugrana too, as the man they would expect to help dig them out of a tough situation - Lewandowski - received only the second red card of his career instead. A first booking after 11 minutes for a push on Nacho Vidal was followed by a second 19 minutes later for a nonsensical elbow on the goalscorer, García, when challenging for a header. Despite one promising attack which saw Ferran Torres denied by the offside flag from close range, the Pole had visibly left his side in hot water, as they struggled to break down their hosts before HT.
As a result it fell upon Xavi Hernández to calm down his players during the break for a second-half fightback. Whilst his message failed to reach Gerard Piqué, who was bizarrely also shown the red card in the tunnel during the break for protesting referee Jesús Gil Manzano’s decisions, denying the defender a final LL substitute appearance before retirement, it did reach the rest of his players. Within three minutes of the restart Barça had got back on level terms thanks to Pedri, latching onto U. García’s interception to fire in unmarked in the box.
This set up a grandstand finish that would have great implications on both the title and the top-four race. Efforts from Chimy Ávila and Kike García made it look like Los Rojillos would be the ones to snatch all three points, but instead it was Barcelona’s Raphinha who came up with the goods late on. The Brazilian made a perfectly-timed run to meet Frenkie de Jong’s pass and send a looping header over Aitor Fernández from 18 yards, and by extension send his side five points clear at the top of the table.