Lewandowski boosts Barça in El Sadar
The blaugrana win (1-2) with a penalty from the Pole in the final stretch to neutralize the push and local effort
MADRID, 3 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona beat Osasuna (1-2) this Sunday at El Sadar, in a somewhat uncomfortable match for the blaugrana, who unleashed their lack of inspiration with a goal from the French center-back Jules Koundé on the brink of half-time and another from the Polish striker Robert Lewandowski of a controversial penalty in the final stretch, against a ‘rojillo’ team that put character and intensity and came to dream of a victory after the momentary draw with a great shot from ‘Chimy’ Ávila.
Xavi Hernández’s men came out alive and chained their third consecutive domestic victory in a difficult place, which they squeezed from the first minute. Without changes in the eleven, the brand new signings Joao Cancelo and Joao Félix made their debut from the bench, in favor of a Lamine Yamal who repeated ownership although without the impact of other matches.
Without generating too much danger, Barça found themselves at 0-1 close to half-time, thanks to an unappealable header from Koundé after a corner kick. The goal did not intimidate an Osasuna with up to nine changes in their eleven, and after much harassing the Catalan defense, a powerful shot from ‘Chimy’ Ávila put the tie on the scoreboard and the illusion in the stands. Although it did not last long, because Lewandowski scored the final 1-2 from the penalty spot, not without controversy, his second goal in the championship.
As expected, Osasuna started with a higher intensity than that proposed by Barça, also spurred on by the throats of a ‘rojilla’ fans that filled El Sadar. However, it was Xavi’s team that struck first, with a great chance for the Dutchman Frenkie de Jong, who sent the ball to the post.
The league champion’s approaches were not quite dangerous, except for a shot from Gündogan in an isolated action in the local area, as the clearest occasion for the start of the match. On the other side, the intense pressure from Osasuna continued, with José Arnaiz testing Ter Stegen for the first time after a good play by Aimar Oroz, the best of the locals.
Precisely, it was the ’10’ of the locals who had the 1-0 in his boots after half an hour of play. However, the German goalkeeper pulled reflexes to deflect the midfielder’s stuck shot, after the umpteenth internship of the young winger Areso on the right.
And when it seemed that the tie would reign until the break, the blaugrana’s goal came, thanks to a precise and placed shot from Koundé to a corner kick taken by Gündogan. This goal opened a new stage and left an Osasuna very touched who saw how all the effort of the first half was in vain at the worst moment.
Already in the second half, Osasuna came out with one more march, reminiscent of the beginning of the game, although without a prize in the form of a goal. The match was stopped by an elbow from Rubén García to Gavi and the local momentum cooled down a bit, although the game was reactivated, also due to the first changes made by Arrasate. The duel became somewhat tense, with jumbled plays and a Sadar who pressed more than ever.
Barça suffered without the ball, so they tried to relax the game with long possessions that were neutralized by the tireless pressure from Osasuna. The ‘rojillo’ coach brought on ‘Chimy’ Ávila, who drove the Barça defense crazy. He first warned with a long shot that went high, but on the second attempt he nailed a shot from the edge that hit the post and went into the net, impossible for a Ter Stegen who made the statue.
With little more than 10 minutes to go, the framework of the match changed, with a motivated Osasuna that bit without the ball. Only a piece of genius could unblock the game for a FC Barcelona that fell apart. However, in his worst minutes, the referee signaled a penalty for Lewandowski for grabbing Catena in the area. Ortiz Arias had to go to VAR to ratify it and change the yellow for a red one to the central defender.
The Pole did not fail, faithful to his usual ‘paradinha’, and put the 1-2 that sat like a jug of cold water in El Sadar, since it arrived in the final stretch. However, Osasuna did not lower his arms and claimed a penalty on Budimir, with a hold by debutant Iñigo Martínez similar to the one Lewandowski suffered, but the referee did not consider it. Thus, without many more blows, the match ended with the Barça victory, which leaves Barça third with 10 points, while Osasuna remains tenth.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: OSASUNA, 1 – FC BARCELONA, 2 (0-1, at halftime).
–LINEUPS:
OSASUNA: Herrera; Areso (Nacho Vidal, min.79), Herrando, Catena, Juan Cruz; Oroz, Ibáñez (MOncayola, min.72), Muñoz; Rubén García (Barja, min.62), Raúl García (Budimir. min 62) and Arnáiz (‘Chimy’ Ávila min.62).
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto (Cancelo, min.59), Koundé, Christensen (Inigo Martinez, min.90), Balde; Gündogan, Romeu (Joao Felix, min.80), De Jong; Yamal (Ferran Torres, 59th minute), Lewandowski (Raphinha, 90th minute) and Gavi.
–GOALS.
0-1, minute 46. Koundé.
1-1, minute 76. ‘Chimy’ Ávila.
1-2, minute 86. Lewandowski.
–REFEREE: Ortiz Arias (C.Madrileño). He admonished Areso (Min.41) and sent off Catena (min.84) for Osasuna, and admonished Lewandowski (min.33, Gavi (min.67), De Jong (min.83) and Alejandro Balde (min.92 ) by FC Barcelona.
–STADIUM: El Sadar. 21,966 viewers.