BARCELONA: Barcelona swept to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Osasuna to move three points clear at the top of La Liga despite their discontent at having to play their match on Thursday.

The Catalans’ appeal against the rescheduling of this game was rejected but Hansi Flick’s side, unbeaten in 19 matches across all competitions, still made light work of Osasuna, 14th.

Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo netted in the first half with Robert Lewandowski on target after the break.

Barca were without key winger Raphinha as he played for Brazil on Wednesday in South America in World Cup qualifying but cruised at the Olympic stadium regardless in a match postponed on March 8 due to the death of club doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.

Flick was happy with the victory but said an injury to Olmo meant it came at a cost.

“We are going through a great moment and I proud of team, the way they are facing every game with the same commitment,” Flick told reporters.

“There are 10 games to go and we are three points clear on top so that’s good and we have to keep going with the same attitude.

“The situation was not easy, having to play today was not ideal and it cost us as Olmo got injured. It made the win have a bitter taste. We don’t know how long he will be out but if it’s two weeks, he’ll miss a lot of games and if it’s three weeks even more.”

Some players, including France’s Jules Kounde, played 120 minutes on Sunday for their countries before returning for the game.

“It’s a lack of respect to the club to select this date,” Kounde told DAZN. “We’re not machines and to play our game and give the fans what we want, we need rest.”

Flick put veteran striker Lewa­n­dowski on the bench, deploying Torres in his place to excellent effect. “Every game is a final, so today’s was a final, it was important for us,” Torres told DAZN.

Torres opened the scoring for the home side in the 11th minute with a first-touch effort from inside the six-yard box, connecting with Alejandro Balde’s cross in a terrific team goal.

Ten minutes after Torres opened the scoring, Pedri sent a long ball through the middle that Olmo took in his stride to beat the offside trap, but was tripped by goalkeeper Sergio Herrera as he attempted to round him.

Herrera made a brilliant save to deny Olmo’s first effort from the penalty spot, but the referee ordered the penalty to be retaken due to an Osasuna player entering the box before the kick was taken and the Spanish forward made no mistake with his second attempt, firing it low to the goalkeeper’s right.

Olmo was forced out of the game with what looked like a muscle injury, replaced by academy midfielder Fermin Lopez as Flick’s side kept controlling possession and creating several chances mainly through teenage winger Lamine Yamal.

Torres almost extended their lead in the 38th minute, striking a free kick from the edge of the box off the crossbar and Barca wasted several good chances before Lewandowski headed home a Lopez cross from close range in the 77th minute.

Undefeated since late December, Barca are the only team in Europe’s top-five league who have yet to lose in 2025. They have 63 points from 28 games with champions Real Madrid in second on 60 and Atletico third on 56.

Vicente Moreno’s Osasuna are without a win in their last seven games across all competitions.

“We’re not doing well, for a long time we’ve been down in the dumps,” said Osasuna’s Ruben Garcia. “We faced a team that rolled over the top of us, we have to recognise that and try to do better.”

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2025