Barcelona does not need the Dutch and breaks Spanish record


Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 10:50 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 22:54

Barcelona scored an easy win in La Liga on Sunday night. Xavi’s team was supreme in the first half against Osasuna and eventually won 4-0. Not a single Dutchman had a starting place, although Memphis Depay did make his appearance as a substitute. Barcelona broke a Spanish record, as Riqui Puig’s goal (the 4-0) has netted 22 different players for the club this season. Barcelona is third, five points behind number two Sevilla and with a match credit.

Barcelona had to do without the suspended Nico González. Dani Alves played in the right-back position, who is not registered for the Europa League and therefore was missing on Thursday against Galatasaray (0-0). Sergiño Dest is the victim of his return to the base. In the center of defence, Ronald Araújo gave way to Gerard Pique, who played his 600th official game for Barcelona. Only Pedri remained in midfield; this time he played alongside Sergio Busquets and Gavi instead of Nico and Frenkie de Jong. In the vanguard, only Ferran Torres kept his starting spot. On Thursday, he played up front with Memphis Depay and Adama Traoré, but this time with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembélé.

Luuk de Jong also started on the bench. So there was not a single Dutchman on the field, but it turned out that Barcelona didn’t need them either. Xavi’s team was supreme in the first half and led 3-0 at half time. Ferran Torres scored the first two goals. The attacker was allowed to score after thirteen minutes for a penalty after a foul by right back Nacho Vidal on Gavi. He placed the ball cleanly in the right corner: 1-0. After twenty minutes, Ferran received a splitting cross pass from Dembélé in the penalty area, which suddenly put him in front of keeper Sergio Herrera. He pushed the ball under Herrara and gave Barcelona a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Dembélé’s assist also came with the third goal. The Frenchman sent a low, turning cross from the right flank towards the mouth of the goal. Aubameyang reacted alertly and finished with his outstretched right leg. Barcelona slowed down in the second half. Seventeen minutes before the end, Depay and Riqui Puig came together in the lines and the latter still made it 4-0. His shot from the box was still blocked by Herrera, but Puig rushed to the ball for the rebound, rounded the keeper and scored from close range. Puig scored his first goal of the season and is Barcelona’s 22nd goalscorer this season in LaLiga, a Spanish record. Depay tried to make it 5-0 with a spectacular chop, but just couldn’t get the ball to the goal.