PAMPLONA, Spain — A 10-man Barcelona secured a dramatic come-from-behind victory at Osasuna on Tuesday, 2-1.
An early goal for Osasuna and a red card for Robert Lewandowski looked to have cornered Barcelona, with a red card for Gerard Pique in his final match of his club career only adding insult to injury.
But Barcelona took control in the second half, even down a man, and collected all three points with goals from Pedri and Raphinha.
Here is ESPN’s Sam Marsden with reaction and analysis from Estadio El Sadar.
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Rapid reaction
1. 10-man Barca dig deep for biggest win of the season
It is no exaggeration to say this was perhaps Barcelona‘s biggest win of the season so far.
Given how the game developed, they would have happily taken a point from Tuesday’s game at Osasuna until Raphinha’s late header unexpectedly gave them three. Makeshift centre-back Frenkie de Jong picked out the run of the Brazilian in the 85th minute and he produced a brilliant finish to score just his second goal of the season the day after he bemoaned his lack of goals since joining from Leeds United.
An hour earlier, it had not looked good for Barca. They made a slow start, Sergio Busquets was sloppy on a corner kick and they conceded. Then Robert Lewandowski was silly and they were too easily wound up by refereeing decisions that they felt went against them.
But despite all that, and despite playing for an hour with 10 men after Lewandowski’s red card, they still managed to leave Pamplona with a victory that ensures they will sit top of LaLiga during the World Cup break after Real Madrid lost to Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
The equaliser had arrived from Pedri, who at 19 already looks ready to take over the midfield from Busquets, who was painfully off the pace here. His poor play led to the corner that Osasuna scored from — he then lost the goal scorer, David Garcia — and he gave the ball again moments later for Chimy Avila to hit the side netting.
Barca were able to regroup at the break to secure what could be a very important three points come the end of the season.
