Lewandowski, assisted by Ilkay Gundogan, opened the scoring before the hour mark, showcasing clinical finishing. The 35-year-old veteran striker, not in top form this season, seized the opportunity to give Barcelona the lead. Sixteen-year-old Yamal sealed the victory in stoppage time with his first goal since October.
Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona's coach, expressed motivation for the upcoming Clasico, saying, "We want to take the ball off Madrid, that's our DNA, we're hugely motivated, it's the moment to show our best football. We're in another final, another Clasico, which was our main objective -- we didn't play a brilliant game, but a serious, sensible one."
The win over Osasuna marked Barcelona's first victory by more than a single goal since September. Frenkie de Jong highlighted the importance of the win, stating, "It's about winning, playing well, and we played a solid game. We have to improve, we are improving -- it's quite a new team this year with a lot of changes and you always need time to improve."
Osasuna, making their debut in the competition and runners-up in last season's Copa del Rey final, put up a resilient fight in the first half. Lewandowski's goal in the 59th minute, amid complaints from Osasuna regarding a possible foul in the build-up, tilted the match in Barcelona's favor.
Xavi introduced Pedri Gonzalez and Joao Felix, the latter forcing a spectacular save from Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera. Despite Osasuna's efforts, they failed to exert enough pressure for an equalizer, and Yamal secured the victory in the dying moments.
Xavi emphasized the unpredictable nature of every Clasico and anticipated an evenly contested game in the upcoming final against Real Madrid.
Post a Comment