Barcelona suffered an expensive point loss in LaLiga on Sunday while visiting Osasuna. Nico gave coach Xavi’s team the lead, after which David García immediately equalized the score. Ez Abde seemed to give the Catalans the victory after the break, but Chimy Ávila still plunged Barcelona into mourning in the final phase: 2-2. The draw leaves Barcelona in eighth place with 24 points from 17 matches.
Barça suffered several blows in the past week. Last weekend, the club suffered its first defeat against Real Betis (1-0) under the new coach Xavi, after which it was knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich (3-0 loss) on Wednesday. In this match Jordi Alba and Memphis Depay also suffered injuries, which further filled the infirmary. Luuk de Jong replaced his compatriot against Osasuna as attack leader for the Catalan visitors, while there was also a base place for Frenkie de Jong in the center of midfield. Sergiño Dest, who started as a winger against Bayern, started on the bench.
Barça take the lead through Nico, but quickly relinquish it! ????? Garcia is not covered, but nevertheless heads in nicely ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #OsasunaBarca pic.twitter.com/BleAWfKVUX
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) December 12, 2021
Both teams failed to create opportunities in the opening phase. Barcelona, on the other hand, proved extremely effective by converting the first opportunity of the game into a goal. Gavi saw Nico make a run behind the home team’s last line. On the verge of being offside, the deep midfielder then beat Sergio Herrera: 1-0. Barcelona alone could not enjoy the lead for long, because two minutes later it was also hit on the other side, when captain García was able to head in a free kick from Jon Moncayola: 1-1.
Barcelona grabs the lead at Osasuna! ?? Abde Ez is free at the far post and works high in the goal inside ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #OsasunaBarca pic.twitter.com/iifXMxQD4g
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) December 12, 2021
The crowd in Estadio El Sadar expected an open game after the two goals in quick succession, but beyond a few threatening moments from Ez Abde on the side of Barça, there was nothing to note before half-time. The visitors had more than seventy percent of the ball before half-time and did not change their game plan in the second half. This led to a new lead for Barcelona early in the second half after a questionable moment. Gavi first shot into his own penalty area against Sergio Busquets’ arm, after which the team was quickly across the street. Ousmane Dembélé passed Abde, who found the top left corner from close by: 2-1.
In the well! ??
Barcelona relinquish the lead and appear to be spilling points again ??
It’s not running under Xavi yet??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #OsasunaBarca pic.twitter.com/htnakB2Z3N
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) December 12, 2021
Osasuna felt disadvantaged by referee José Munuera and was not immediately able to straighten his back. From an attacking point of view, the home side were unable to make a fist, allowing Barca to consolidate the lead. In the final phase it still went wrong for the Catalans. Barcelona did not clear a corner well, Ávila did not think twice about a falling ball and scored with a low slider: 2-2.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 39 |
| 2 | Seville | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 34 |
| 3 | Real Betis | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 30 |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 29 |
| 5 | Real Sociedada | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 29 |
| 6 | Rayo Vallecano | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 27 |
| 7 | Valencia | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 25 |
| 8 | Barcelona | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 24 |
| 9 | Espanyol | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 23 |
| 10 | Osasuna | 17 | 5 | 7 | 5 | -4 | 22 |
| 11 | Athletic Club | 17 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| 12 | Real Majorca | 17 | 4 | 8 | 5 | -7 | 20 |
| 13 | Villarreal | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 19 |
| 14 | Celta de Vigo | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -4 | 17 |
| 15 | Granada | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | -7 | 15 |
| 16 | Elche | 17 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -8 | 15 |
| 17 | Alaves | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -9 | 15 |
| 18 | getafe | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | -9 | 12 |
| 19 | Cadiz | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -16 | 12 |
| 20 | Levante | 17 | 0 | 8 | 9 | -16 | 8 |