Jordi Alba spared Barcelona’s blushes in opposition to a defiant 10-man Osasuna after his late strike earned the hosts a 1-0 LaLiga win at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
The substitute tucked a low end previous Aitor Fernandez on the close to put up within the closing levels to maintain the Blaugrana on the march to the title.
It delivered essential aid for Xavi’s aspect after they’d largely didn’t take advantage of out of an additional physique in opposition to the guests, following Jorge Herrando’s Twenty sixth-minute pink card.
The win strikes Barca onto 82 factors and doubtlessly simply a few video games away from clinching a primary LaLiga title for the reason that 2018-19 marketing campaign.
An in any other case tepid sport that had mustered little in the way in which of pleasure burst into life shortly earlier than the half-hour mark when Osasuna debutant Herrando introduced down Pedri because the final man.
Referee Javier Iglesias brandished a straight pink to finish the 22-year-old’s involvement, earlier than Raphinha brushed the crossbar with the next 30-yard free-kick.
Barca nonetheless appeared under their finest nevertheless and had been pressured to withdraw a limping Gavi earlier than the break, although Ronald Araujo went shut with a low header from a set-piece.
With their man benefit, the hosts stepped up their makes an attempt to search out an opener after the interval, with Ousmane Dembele firing broad at shut vary simply after the hour mark.
Robert Lewandowski appeared to have lastly made the breakthrough with lower than a quarter-hour left, just for Ferran Torres to be flagged offside because the hosts feared they must accept a share of the spoils.
But Alba was there to internet the winner within the eighty fifth minute, slotting a neat strike between Fernandez and the put up to ship the house crowd into raptures.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
