The Brazilian Raphinha saved the leader with a brace Barcelona of the Osasuna swarm, whom they beat 2-0 at the Camp Nou this Saturday on matchday 16 of LaLiga and consolidated their lead.
For Mundo Deportivo it was crucial. Here’s how he describes it: “His influence in scoring the game’s two goals was particularly valuable this time, because the Brazilian wasn’t showing his best and most precise performance as a playmaker. And yet he believed.” He gave the first clue by trying to score “Pele’s goal” from home and confirmed his superiority by scoring 1-0 with a low shot and chasing the 2-0 with competitive cunning.
With this victory, Barcelona has 43 points and is seven points behind Real Madridtheir biggest rival, who will play as a guest against Alavés this Sunday.
The Barça team attacked the red team for most of the game, staying compact at the back and only having the only opportunity to move quickly towards Joan García’s goal.
The VAR even canceled a goal by Ferrán Torres Header due to a previous offside position by Raphinha early in the game in the 24th minute.
With a notable presence near the final third, the Catalan team chained one attack after another to break the tie, but the defensive strength of the Navarrese, who closed the spaces well, forced the culés to finish from outside to end long possessions.
Joan Monfort – AP
Raphinha’s first goal came right from the crescent, 20 minutes from time. Eric García took control of the ball in his field to hand it to Pedri, who started a race to finally give it to the Brazilian, who saw a space to place it and reassure the Blaugrana fans.
Osasuna sought more and more without danger in the opponent’s penalty area and opened up the pitch further, allowing Jules Koundé to rush forward and place a cross that Alejandro Catena deflected, allowing Raphinha to shoot at the far post. to condemn the development shortly before its completion.
Days ago, Diego Simeone praised him warmly. “I love Raphinha. Play all positions. “As a winger, as a winger, at the top, as a midfielder… He scores goals and puts pressure on the scoreboard,” he said. Cholo’s words even led to him calling on the Barcelona player to win the highest individual award the sport has to offer, Over Ousmane Dembelewhich received the award in 2025: “I don’t know how he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or last year.. It’s like that in football, everyone has the right to choose what they want, but I would choose Raphinha. “It enchants me.”
For Carlo AncelottiBrazil’s coach will be indispensable for the World Cup. There is usually no friendly relationship between the Italian’s demands and the striker’s suggestions. Especially for a high-altitude match against Bolivia, which was considered “scandalous” by the Spanish media due to their participation and with nothing at stake for the future. In any case, it will be an influential card in a world championship where Brazil will try to regain its glory lost.
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