Key Takeaways
- Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-1 at El Sadar to open a 14-point gap at the top of La Liga.
- Hansi Flick was pleased with his team’s second-half display after bringing on Frenkie de Jong for the booked Gavi.
- The Catalans could be crowned champions without kicking a ball if Real Madrid fail to defeat Espanyol on Sunday.
Barcelona took another giant stride towards defending their La Liga crown with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph against Osasuna in Pamplona on Saturday evening. Goals from Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres sealed the three points at El Sadar, sending the Blaugrana 14 points clear at the summit of the table.
Speaking to DAZN after the final whistle, head coach Hansi Flick expressed his satisfaction with the result. He admitted the first half was difficult but praised how his players responded following the interval.
“We came here to win,” Flick stated. “It was a challenging match. We could have played better before the break, but we scored two late goals. I am delighted for the squad and the supporters. These three points matter a lot.”
The German tactician revealed that a tactical switch at half-time helped turn the tide. He replaced Gavi with Frenkie de Jong after the Spanish midfielder received a yellow card. “We wanted to take more risks,” Flick explained. “We increased the tempo and played with greater speed through Marcus Rashford and Ferran.”
The victory means Barcelona can clinch the championship on Sunday without playing themselves. If Real Madrid drop points against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, the title will remain at Spotify Camp Nou. When asked if he will watch the Madrid derby, Flick responded with a laugh.
“We have completed our task here,” he said. “Now we must wait for tomorrow. The result is out of our control. We will celebrate when the title is secured. Will I watch the match? Perhaps I will take my wife to see El Mago Pop instead.”