LA LIGA
28.09.2024 | 23:58
Pedri wearing the Barcelona jersey in a La Liga match against Osasuna | September 28, 2024
@2024 MIGUEL OSES/AP IMAGES
After an impressive “7 out of 7” start in this year’s La Liga, Barcelona suffered their first defeat on Saturday night, with the strong home team Osasuna triumphing 4-2 over the Blaugrana in the 8th round.
Barcelona traveled to Pamplona with the confidence provided by their impressive streak of seven victories in as many opening matches, but in their clash with Osasuna for the 8th round of La Liga, the home advantage spoke volumes.
Vicente Moreno’s team had won their first three league games at “El Sadar” (against Mallorca, Celta, and Las Palmas) and the same scene repeated on Saturday night, with the Pamplona team being clearly superior to the Blaugrana from start to finish, achieving a deserved 4-2.
Ferran Torres wearing the Barcelona jersey in an away match against Osasuna | September 28, 2024
@2024 MIGUEL OSES/AP IMAGES
From the very first half hour, they took the lead, going ahead by two goals with goals from Budimir (18′) and Taragóta (28′), with the end of the first period finding the hosts with 1.14 xgoals and Barcelona with a scant 0.05 (since the 2010-11 season, only in one match had they a lower figure, the 0.01 against Eibar in May 2021).
In the 53rd minute, the Blaugrana were back in the match with Viktor’s goal, and a few minutes later, Hansi Flick introduced Yamal and Rafinha, but Osasuna did not panic and counterattacked, reaching 4-1 with a successful penalty from Budimir (72′) and an incredible long-range shot from Bretones (85′).
The only thing the Catalans could manage was to score a second goal just before the end with Yamal (89′), with the final whistle seeing Osasuna celebrating a well-deserved victory over the league leaders, boasting an impressive 2.35 xgoals compared to just 0.59 of their opponent.
It is noteworthy that this was the third time Osasuna scored at least 4 goals against Barcelona in any competition, following the 4-2 in 1936 for the Spanish Super Cup and the 4-2 in 1984 for the league.
- OSASUNA: Herrera, Arezo, Catena, Boyomo, Cruz, Ruben Garcia (59′ Ruben Pena), Ibanez, Oroth, Toro, Taragóta, Budimir
- BARCELONA: Peña, Koundé, Koubarssi, Martin (70′ Balde), Domingues, Pedri, Eric Garcia, Torre (59′ Rafinha), Viktor (59′ Yamal), Torres, Lewandowski (70′ Casado)
The schedule and results of the 8th round
- Valladolid – Mallorca 1-2 (90+4′ Sánchez / 59′ Larin, 83′ Fernandez)
- Getafe – Alavés 2-0 (42′ Arambari, 58′ pen. Miña)
- Rayo Vallecano – Leganés 1-1 (8′ Camejo / 55′ Cruz)
- Real Sociedad – Valencia 3-0 (8′ Kubo, 80′ 90+2′ Oscarsson)
- Osasuna – Barcelona 4-2 (18′ 72′ pen. Budimir, 28′ Taragóta, 85′ Bretones / 53′ Viktor, 89′ Yamal)
- 29/9 15:00 Celta – Girona
- 29/9 17:15 Athletic – Sevilla
- 29/9 19:30 Betis – Espanyol
- 29/9 22:00 Atlético – Real
- 30/9 22:00 Villarreal – Las Palmas
The next round
- 4/10 22:00 Leganés – Valencia
- 5/10 15:00 Espanyol – Mallorca
- 5/10 17:15 Getafe – Osasuna
- 5/10 19:30 Valladolid – Rayo Vallecano
- 5/10 19:30 Las Palmas – Celta
- 5/10 22:00 Real – Villarreal
- 6/10 15:00 Girona – Athletic
- 6/10 17:15 Alavés – Barcelona
- 6/10 19:00 Sevilla – Betis
- 6/10 22:00 Real Sociedad – Atlético