Barcelona 4-0 Osasuna: Ferran Torres, Aubameyang and Riqui Puig in goal

An evening of ten and praise for Xavi’s Barcelona. Ten as the useful results lined up after the last knockout in the Super Cup, but also for how the home success on Osasuna matures, which is worth the regaining of third place in the standings. The resistance of the guests lasts about twenty minutes, enough time for Ferran Torres and Dembélé to make the deadly one-two that closes every conversation in the bud. The Camp Nou challenge translates into a long Blaugrana monologue that ends with Riqui Puig’s 4-0 in the 76th minute. Fourth poker in the last six outings for the Catalans, who replicate in tone the successes of Atletico and Betis. Before the kick-off, the audience pays tribute to Piqué for the finish of the 600 “culé” matches, but the captain leaves after an hour for a knee discomfort.

Who’s back

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A delicate appointment for the Catalans four days after the decisive European challenge in Turkey and above all one week from the Clasico. That’s why Xavi changes six since his last cup match against Galatasaray, leaving Dest and De Jong to rest. The presence of Dembélé in the trident next to Ferran Torres and Aubameyang is the real surprise move, also because it comes at the expense of Traoré and Depay (both on the bench). The choice immediately turns out to be spot on, because the Frenchman generates the first jolts from Herrera’s parts after 10 ‘with a razor just wide, while on 21’ he fishes Ferran Torres with a delicious assist for the goal that liquidates the practice well in advance . Yes, because the first seal had arrived in the 14th minute, thanks to a penalty kick granted for a foul on Gavi and transformed by the former City.

VICTORY IN SLIGHTNESS – The French winger makes it clear several times that he is in the evening, in fact he tries a couple of times before making the second assist, the one that is worth Aubameyang’s third goal after 27 ‘. Ferran Torres deserves a separate chapter, the other thorn in the side of the host defense from the very first minutes. Xavi has probably enjoyed the best version of the Spanish since he has been in Catalonia, not only for the brace with which he puts the result in the safe within 6 ‘, but also for the constant danger and movements with which he systematically smashes the Navarre defense. Arrasate’s team never finds the strength to react and only rarely appears in the opposing half of the pitch, let alone Ter Stegen’s side. The inconsistency of Osasuna is such that Barça can afford to lower the laps after the first half and freeze the result at a slow pace. The second half is pure academy, with a goal disallowed in Piqué for millimeter offside and a couple of chances again wasted by Dembélé before Riqui Puig’s last seal, who scored three minutes after entering the field after a short block from Herrera. On balance, the Blaugrana take home three points with minimal effort. The only drawback, the discomfort in the knee that pushes Piqué to ask for the change after 62 ‘and that puts Xavi on alert in view of a crucial week.