FC Barcelona host Club Deportivo Osasuna in the match corresponding to matchday 27 of La Liga, which was postponed on March 8 due to the tragic death of the Blaugrana team doctor Carles Miñarro at the team hotel two hours before the start of the match.
Barcelona in search of the lead
Barcelona hosts Osasuna at the Lluis Companys stadium in the postponed La Liga match corresponding to matchday 27 of the league, and does so with the aim of taking the sole lead in the standings. Currently, Hansi Flick‘s team are leaders, but tied on points with Real Madrid, so victory is key to keeping the distance with Ancelotti’s team and gaining a small lead over their eternal rivals.
Barcelona could win their twentieth league championship and, as well as moving three points ahead of Real Madrid, could leave Atlético de Madrid seven points behind, a very large gap at this stage of the championship, with ten more games to play for each team.
A controversial match
The match is surrounded by controversy regarding the schedule. The game was postponed due to the tragic death of Barcelona’s doctor, Carles Miñarro, who was found dead in the hotel room prior to the game at the beginning of October. Now LaLiga is coming out of a break due to the international commitments of the national teams, and although the European internationals have had no problem rejoining the group (although they were undoubtedly tired), those playing in South America are very short of time for the match. In fact, Raphinha and Ronald Araújo will not play the match due to the long journey and the few hours of rest.
For this reason, Barcelona asked for the match not to be held on these dates, but the truth is that the calendar obliged them to do so. Barcelona is still alive in all competitions, and LaLiga could not risk postponing the match and waiting for Barcelona to be eliminated from the Copa del Rey or the Champions League. In fact, the only free date on the calendar if Barcelona advanced to the Copa del Rey final or the Champions League final was Wednesday between the penultimate and final matchdays of the league, but the regulations do not allow it to be played on that date, as the last two matches of the teams in the league competition must be played at the same time as the rest of their opponents so as not to affect their match.
Other absences for Barcelona
In addition to the aforementioned absences of Raphinha and Ronald Araújo due to international commitments, Barcelona will be without Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen in defense and Marc Casadó following his rupture of the external ligament of his right knee.
How Osasuna will line up
The Navarrese team arrives in Barcelona in fourteenth position in LaLiga, and faces the match as an opportunity to distance themselves from the relegation places (they are 6 places above them), but with nothing to lose against a bigger rival. However, they have already won the first leg and are ready to cause an upset on their visit to Barcelona.
Osauna will be without Bryan Zaragoza, decisive in the victory in the first leg, and Unai García, both through injury. Lucas Torró will also be unable to play due to an accumulation of cards.
Barcelona line-up
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczęsny
Defenders: Jules Koundé, Ercic García, Iñigo Martínez and Alejandro Balde
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Pedri
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Olmo and Ferran Torres.