Raphinha fires Barcelona seven clear as late double sinks stubborn Osasuna

Raphinha struck twice in the second half as Barcelona finally wore down a dogged Osasuna to win 2-0 and move seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

It was one of those nights at the Olympic Stadium where it looked like it might not happen. Barca battered away, racking up chance after chance, but went into the final 20 minutes still level after firing in 21 shots to Osasuna’s three.

The breakthrough arrived on 70 minutes. Pedri surged through midfield, slipped the ball to Raphinha and the Brazilian bent a calm finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Relief all round. Job half done.

The champions thought they’d scored much earlier when Ferran Torres headed in a Marcus Rashford cross in the 23rd minute, only for VAR to step in. Raphinha’s heel was judged offside in the build-up from a short corner and the goal was chalked off, to loud groans from the stands.

Torres had another big chance soon after, meeting Lamine Yamal’s teasing inswinger, but he lifted his first-time effort over the bar. It summed up Barca’s first-half frustration, plenty of the ball, not enough end product.

Osasuna offered little going forward but nearly nicked it on the counter early in the second half. Victor Munoz burst past Alejandro Balde and suddenly it was one-on-one, only to drag his shot wide with Joan Garcia beaten. A let-off.

Once Raphinha broke the deadlock, the resistance drained away. The winger, who was a constant menace all night, made sure of the points four minutes from time, arriving at the back post to tap in after a deflected cross dropped kindly in his path.

The win makes it seven straight league victories for Barcelona, a remarkable swing after they were five points behind Real Madrid following a 2-1 Clasico defeat just seven weeks ago. Now it’s Barca seven clear, with Real needing a win at Alaves on Sunday just to trim the gap.

Momentum is firmly with Xavi’s side and Raphinha is right at the heart of it. If this run continues, the title is heading back to Catalunya.