Barcelona already booked their eighth victory in a row in LaLiga on Saturday evening. Goals from Jordi Alba and substitute Ilaix Moriba were the deciding factor in the always difficult game with Osasuna: 0-2. The victory in Pamplona is not only a boost in the battle for the exciting battle with Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid for the national title, but also towards seeing Paris Saint-Germain again on Wednesday in the eighth finals of the Champions League.
“A difficult match”, Koeman acknowledged afterwards. “From a football point of view, we lacked a few things. But we have worked hard and put a lot of energy into our game. The fatigue from the cup match with Sevilla was visible. We played seriously and thanks to two great goals we took three points. ” Barcelona lost 2-1 in and against Cádiz on December 5 and has remained unbeaten in LaLiga ever since: three draws and thirteen victories in sixteen league matches. “We lost a lot of points at the start of the season, but the players have responded very well.”
Goal Barça !! 0-2! Ilaix Moriba is making his first at the Blaugrana and what one! ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #OSABAR pic.twitter.com/I2NOdUyu5y
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) March 6, 2021
Koeman made Barcelona play again in a 5-3-2 system, just like in the duels with Sevilla (0-2 in LaLiga and 3-0 in the Copa del Rey), but after the break he replaced Samuel Umtiti for Ousmane Dembélé and the Catalans played 4-3-3. “Why I took Umtiti to the side? It is true that he had a yellow card, but he did not put pressure on Osasuna, ”said the Dutchman. “We played better in the second half.” Barcelona now has only two points less than Atlético, which, however, has played two games less. “We are now unbeaten for 16 games in LaLiga and we have narrowed the gap to Atlético. Of course the battle for the league title will be until the end of the season. ”
A wonderful goal from eighteen-year-old Moriba ended the game in Pamplona. “He is developing,” said Koeman about the teenager, who is now in the first five duels and seems to be in the pecking order of the Dutchman above Miralem Pjanic and Riqui Puig. In his first LaLiga appearance, against Deportivo Alavés (5-1), Moriba was good for an assist but also led in the goal with a wrong pass. “Everyone has the right to make a mistake in a game, especially young footballers. Such mistakes in the beginning make him learn from them. He is doing well and he always gives the team something extra when he comes onto the field. That’s really important. He is good at the ball, he is physically strong and he will be more in the first team. ”
“We are proud to be able to call on talents from the youth academy for the first time. These young footballers deserve a chance. Pedri, Ilaix, Óscar Mingueza, Ronald Araújo and Riqui Puig have a great future ahead and ask for a chance. I have always given that as a trainer ”, emphasized Koeman, who is curious about who will win Sunday’s presidential elections. “We have not had a chairman for a long time. It is important that he comes and talks to the people. It’s up to the socios. We are not going to exert any influence. ”