Match decided in the final by a penalty from the Pole after the home team had drawn with Avila. Xavi also had two new signings on the bench, Cancelo and Joao Felix
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malfitoto
Away from the Camp Nou, Barcelona are anything but a battleship. But, like against Villarreal a week ago, he still manages to win in the end. Osasuna pays the price this time, succumbing to Lewandowski’s penalty in the final game which is worth the final 1-2. Despite the start of the boarding game, Barça gave their opponents a couple of chances and scored at the last useful moment of the first half thanks to Koundé’s header. Arrasete’s team is good at reading the Blaugrana’s tension drops and striking with substitute Avila fifteen minutes after the triple whistle, but it’s not enough.
the match
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Without Araujo and Pedri, Xavi proposes the 16-year-old Yamal in the offensive trident with Lewandowski and Gavi; on the bench also the latest arrivals, Cancelo and Joao Felix. Arrasete responded with a very similar 4-3-3 formation, with Raul Garcia leading the attack and the Ruben Garcia-Arnaiz duo acting on the flanks. Barça is expected to be immediately projected forward and expectations are largely met. Not even a minute goes by that the blaugrana have a colossal double chance: De Jong opens the plate in the area and hits the post, Lewandowski is not precise in the tap-in. On the other hand, in the 10th minute it was Gundogan who looked for an improbable wide shot a few meters from goal by exploiting a loose ball, which also in this case went wide. The impetus of the guests weakens in the second part of the fraction and Osasuna faces dangerously forward. Arnaiz tests Ter Stegen’s reflexes on the near post from a tight angle, the goalkeeper deflects for a corner (23′) but the real miracle comes on Oroz in the 32′: splendid triangulation between Areso and Ruben Garcia on the right, the back ball is perfect , but the midfielder kicks too softly and the German surpasses himself. A few seconds from the end of the first half Koundé unlocks the match, heading Gundogan’s corner perfectly.
the recovery
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The acquired advantage allows Barcelona to make even better use of the high percentage of ball possession to manage the pace of the match. At game time, Xavi and Arrasete decide to change their starting line-ups: on the one hand, Cancelo and Ferran Torres enter for Yamal and Sergi Roberto, on the other, Osasuna changes the attack with the additions of Budimir and Avila plus Barja midfield system. The substitutions turned out to be successful for the rossoblùs because in the 76th minute Avila received from Areso, concentrated and let go of a left footed shot that slipped between the defense shirts and left Ter Stegen stunned for the equaliser. Xavi tries everything and also sends Joao Felix onto the field, but things settle down before the Portuguese has a chance to make an impact. De Jong draws a soft ball to kiss for Lewandowski, who controls and prepares to hit the net, before Catena tugs at him. Referee Ortiz Arias awards the penalty and opts for yellow, then corrects himself after the on-field review and sends off the defender; the Pole instead from the penalty spot is impeccable, displaces Fernandez and in the 85th minute brings the Catalans ahead. Nothing to report in the ten minutes of added time, Barcelona thus remain in the wake of Real Madrid who continue to lead alone with full points with a two-point margin.
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