Hansi Flick chose reverence over rhetoric after Barcelona’s latest efficient step towards the LaLiga title, hailing the “wonderful” work of La Masia as a youthful side saw off Osasuna 2-0 at Camp Nou.
Raphinha’s late double finally broke the resistance of stubborn visitors and lifted Barcelona seven points clear of Real Madrid, piling pressure on their rivals ahead of Sunday’s trip to Alavés. The margin of victory felt routine by the end, even if the path there was not.
Barcelona dominated the contest without ever fully cutting loose. They attempted 24 shots to Osasuna’s three and generated 2.61 expected goals, yet it took until the final 20 minutes for the scoreboard to reflect their control. Flick, however, was far more interested in what happened at the other end.
Three members of his back four were aged 23 or younger, with Gerard Martín, Alejandro Balde and 18-year-old Pau Cubarsí delivering a performance that suffocated Osasuna almost entirely. Eric García, another La Masia graduate, anchored midfield with composure, completing 93.8% of his passes and offering a reminder of his versatility.
“The important thing was the three points,” Flick said. “We controlled the game; in defence we did very well.” The German coach brushed aside talk of Real Madrid, preferring to frame the win as part of Barcelona’s own recovery after a difficult spell. With his squad close to full fitness, Flick suggested, the team’s true level is becoming visible again.
Statistically, the control was relentless. Martín led all players for touches and passes, Balde barely misplaced a ball, and Cubarsí looked improbably comfortable for a teenager playing centre-back at this level. Flick did not hide his admiration. “Playing at this level at 18 years old is brutal,” he said. “I have to congratulate La Masia.”
For Osasuna, the frustration ran deep. Their coach, Alessio Lisci, insisted his side had not come to Barcelona “on holiday” and lamented a first goal that undid a well-rehearsed plan. With relegation worries mounting, this felt like a missed chance. For Barcelona, it felt like something else entirely: momentum, quietly and convincingly rebuilt.
