La Liga leaders Barcelona make an early return from the international break to take on Osasuna, with this fixture rescheduled following the sudden passing of club doctor Carles Miñarro Garcia. The Blaugrana have expressed frustration at the timing of the match so soon after the break, but they will be eager to honour Garcia by extending their commanding seven-match winning streak in the league. A win here would see them move three points clear of reigning champions Real Madrid at the top of the table.
Hansi Flick’s side come into the clash full of confidence, having avoided defeat in all competitions since December (W15, D3). They have also enjoyed a strong record against Osasuna at home, winning the last four head-to-heads without conceding a goal. Only once before have Barcelona kept five or more consecutive clean sheets at home against Osasuna in La Liga, and they may be seeking revenge after suffering a 4-2 defeat in the reverse fixture back in September.
That result remains significant, as Osasuna are the only team to have scored four goals in a single La Liga game against Flick’s Barcelona. However, replicating that feat will be a tall order. Osasuna have never completed a La Liga double over Barcelona and come into this fixture in poor form, having failed to win any of their last five league matches (D3, L2), resulting in a notable slide down the table.
Now only six points above the relegation zone, their recent struggles can largely be attributed to poor form away from home. Only three teams have picked up fewer points than their tally of nine in La Liga away matches (W1, D6, L5), and they are without a win in their last seven such games, scoring just three goals in that run (D4, L3).
Players to watch:
Lamine Yamal scored the decisive goal in Barcelona’s dramatic comeback against Atlético Madrid before the international break and has found the net in two of his last three appearances against Osasuna. For the visitors, Bryan Zaragoza scored his only La Liga goal of the season in the reverse fixture, and encouragingly, three of his five assists this campaign have come away from home.
Hot stat:
Barcelona have lost just one of their last eight La Liga matches played on a Thursday (W6, D1), keeping five clean sheets in that sequence.
