Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Raphinha's double sees a seven-point lead at the top

Raphinha's second-half double helped Barcelona overcome a stubborn Osasuna and open up a seven-point lead on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Match Report

It looked set to be a frustrating evening for the defending champions, who had 21 shots to three for Osasuna until the Brazilian forward struck the opening blow in the 70th minute.

Raphinha found the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area before converting at the back post in the 86th minute when a cross deflected into his path.

Ferran Torres thought he had broken the deadlock in the 23rd minute when he beat the offside trap and headed in a Marcus Rashford cross.

However, the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled out the goal because Raphinha's heel was offside during a short-corner routine in the build-up.

Torres then went close when he met Lamine Yamal's dangerous inswinging cross, but the former Manchester City forward lifted his first-time effort over the crossbar.

As defensive as Osasuna were, they did pose a threat on the counter-attack. Minutes into the second half Victor Munoz powered past Alejandro Balde only to fire wide with just home goalkeeper Joan Garcia to beat.

Barcelona's dominance was finally rewarded when Pedri drove forward from midfield, found Raphinha and he finished past Sergio Herrera.

Having ended the visitors' resistance, the 28-year-old made sure of the success in the final moments with a simple tap-in.

Seven weeks ago Barcelona trailed Real Madrid by five points after a 2-1 defeat in El Clasico, but now find themselves seven points clear after winning seven consecutive league games.

Real can reduce the deficit to four points if they win at Alaves on Sunday.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Yamal is presented with the La Liga Player of the Month award for November

7' Marcus Rashford charges into the box but it's cleared

9' Marcus Rashford is pushed to the ground but the referee waves play on

15' Ferran has a shot over the bar from Yamal's cross

19' Match Event for Barcelona vs Osasuna

21' Eric Garcia shoots just wide as Barcelona look to make their dominance pay

25' Ferran Torres scores but it's ruled out for offside after VAR review

32' Budimir has a shot saved by Garcia

36' There is a clash of heads between Ante Budimir and Pau Cubarsi

40' Yamal sends a cross but Ferran's shot is wide

48' Rashford takes a free-kick but his shot is pushed behind by Sergio Herrera

49' Munoz is through on goal but rushes the shot and it brushes the side netting

60' Andrés Iniesta is watching the game on the stand

68' Raphinha tries a long-rage shot but it's wide

70' GOAL! Raphinha breaks the deadlock from edge of the box! Barcelona 1-0 Osasuna

75' The hosts make a double change as De Jong and Fermin on for Rashford and Cubarsi

81' Yamal fires a low strike but a superb diving save from Herrera stops the ball

85' Osasuna have the ball in the back of net but it's disallowed as Garcia is fouled

86' GOAL! Raphinha taps in to get his second one tonight! Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna

Line-ups

Barcelona XI: Rashford, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Joan García, Balde, Yamal, Gerard Martín, Cubarsi

Subs: Lewandowski, Ter Stegen, Christensen, De Jong, Casado, Fermín López, Roony Bardghji, Diego Kochen, Dro Fernández, Bernal, Jofre Torrents, Tommy Marqués

Osasuna XI: Budimir, Torro, Sergio Herrera, Alejandro Catena, Jon Moncayola, Jorge Herrando, Abel Bretones, Aimar Oroz, Enzo Boyomo, Víctor Muñoz, Iñigo Arguibide

Subs: Fernandez, Moi Gómez, Sheraldo Becker, Rubén García, Kike Barja, Rosier, Iker Muñoz, Raúl García, Asier Osambela