FC Barcelona 1-0 Osasuna: Nearly there

For weeks it has been looking like it is only a matter of time before FC Barcelona are mathematically confirmed La Liga champions 2022/23. But after the 4-0 defeat of Betis at the weekend, it was already looking like a matter of when rather than whether. And following today’s 1-0 defeat of Osasuna, one hand is already on the trophy, and the other should be on it very soon too.

The result sends Barça 14 points clear of Real Madrid with just five games to go. In the game immediately after, the all-whites were beaten by Real Sociedad, meaning that the Catalans are now just one win away from being mathematically conformed as champions.

And, yes, it was yet another clean sheet. That’s 25 this season, which matches the legendary tally achieved by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in 2004/05.

But today’s three points did not come easily at all. Osasuna proved to be an extremely tough opponent, and even with a man less for the last hour of the game there was no way through. The visitors defended outstandingly, and their goalkeeper was out of this world.

Substitute Jordi Alba eventually came to the rescue with a goal that is practically worth a league title.

Against ten

Many had expected this game to be an easy ride against a side whose minds are unavoidably more focused on the Copa del Rey Final against Real Madrid on Saturday.

Indeed, the visitors made nine changes to the side that had played at the weekend, including a centre back, Jorge Herrando, who had never played at this level before. Just 26 minutes into the game, the debutant took a tug on Pedri’s arm when the latter was through on goal and that was the end of his involvement in the game.

But even a man up, Barça couldn’t get to grips with this one. There was very little for the highlight reel at half-time other than a Ronald Araujo header that went too high and a chance that Pedri will feel he shouldn’t have made more of.

Barça also lost Gavi to injury, and Raphinha took a knock later in the game, but Xavi sounded confident afterwards that neither are cause for any major alarm.

Aitor keeps them out

The lack of goals was a concern though. Barça upped the ante after the break. But so did visiting keeper Aitor Fernández. He made an excellent save to deny Ansu Fati. There was a simply astonishing one against Frenkie de Jong from point-blank range, and Robert Lewandowski was also foiled by Aitor’s quick reflexes.

How were Barça not winning this? A clearance rebounded off Ferran Torres and bobbled past the post by the narrowest of margins. Ousmane Dembélé missed from the kind of position where he usually tucks them away with ease...

Every time Barça came forward, they looked like scoring. But every time Osasuna managed to keep the ball out… And even when Lewandowski finally did have the ball in the net, the flag was up for offside.

Alba the saviour

Six minutes to go, and Barça refused to get frustrated. They refused to resort to panic football. They kept plugging away the way they know best. And at last it came.

Jordi Alba. Just minutes after coming on as a substitute. Coming through from behind as he so loves to do. Bang!

76,061 souls leapt for joy. It had been an agonising evening. The goal should have come a lot, lot earlier. But what matters most is that it came in the end.

The scenes after the game were not title celebrations. At least not officially. But everyone knows at the back of their hearts that sooner or later, the Liga trophy is coming back to Catalonia.

The next game is not until May 14. The derby away to Espanyol. Win that and the Liga title is blaugrana. Bring it on!