Barcelona moved further clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday night after Raphinha scored twice to secure a 2-0 win over Osasuna.
The victory took Barcelona seven points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who travel to Alaves on Sunday and could reduce the gap to four points.
Raphinha broke the deadlock in the 70th minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, ending a frustrating night for the hosts at their partially reopened Camp Nou.
The Brazilian added his second goal four minutes from time, tapping in at the far post after Alejandro Catena deflected Jules Kounde’s cross into his path.
Barcelona struggled for rhythm for much of the match but showed patience to grind out their seventh straight league win. The result also gave them their first clean sheet in six matches across all competitions and a perfect five wins from five home games this season.
Barcelona defender Gerard Martin praised the team’s effort after the match.
“The win has a lot of merit. They were well organised, and it was hard to find a way through,” Martin told Movistar.
“With patience and a lot of possession, we finally did it. A clean sheet gives stability to the team, and then the goals always come.”
Ferran Torres, who started ahead of Robert Lewandowski after scoring a hat-trick against Real Betis last weekend, missed an early chance when he fired over from a dangerous Lamine Yamal cross.
Osasuna threatened on the counter, with Ante Budimir forcing saves from Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia in the first half.
Torres thought he had scored later on, heading in from Marcus Rashford’s cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up.
After the break, Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera kept his side in the game by tipping away a Rashford free-kick, but Barcelona eventually found the breakthrough through Raphinha.
An Osasuna goal by Jorge Herrando was later ruled out after a collision in the box, before Raphinha sealed the win late on.
Martin added that Raphinha’s versatility has been key to the team.
“We’ve got a lot of good players and Rapha, or whoever else plays inside, gives us many solutions in that position,” he said.
Barcelona will now turn attention to their next fixture as they continue their push for the La Liga title.
