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The missing Lewandowski came at a good time and substitute João Félix also arrived on time, fortunately for Lamine Yamal and Barcelona reached the final of the Supercup, their favorite tournament in Xavi's time. The Blaugrana's last 12 wins were by goal difference until their clash with Osasuna in Riyadh. The scoreboard improved and so did the Blaugrana's football heading into their meeting with Madrid. The classic allows us to assess the extent to which Barça has recreated the game and its memory during its stopover in Saudi Arabia.
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Iñaki Peña, A. Christensen, Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Alex Balde, Gündogan, Sergi Roberto (Pedri, Min. 61), Frenkie De Jong, Lewandowski, Raphinha (Lamine Yamal, Min. 42) and Ferrán Torres (João Félix, Min .61)
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Herrera, Jesús Areso, David García, Juan Cruz (Kike Barja, min. 85), Catena, Rubén Peña (Mojica, min. 78), Aimar Oroz, Iker Muñoz, Moi Gómez (Rubén García, min. 85), Ante Budimir and Arnáiz (Raul García de Haro, min. 69)
Goals 1-0 min. 59: Lewandowski. 2:0 minutes. 92: Lamine Yamal.
referee Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz
Yellow cards: Catena (min. 32), Iker Muñoz (min. 39), Arnáiz (min. 55) and Arrasate (min. 80)
Nothing goes well against Osasuna. After a last season in which he won games effortlessly and naturally, or at least fought magnificently against rivals like Barcelona, everything costs him much more. The Navarrese gave in after a goal from Lewandowski, which they discussed a lot, and after that they didn't have enough arrests to get the draw, but instead conceded a second goal from Lamine Yamal.
The winger completed a very good start from João Félix after Lewandowski had previously perfected an assist from Gündogan, the player who supported Barça until Pedri rejoined in the closing stages. The canary colored a game that the Barcelona fans always controlled, except when the ball reached Budimir.
The two teams have lost consistency and the coaches do not stop changing the team to find balance, especially in the case of Arrasate, who arranged a formation with three central defenders to defend Barça's two and a half strikers. Xavi ended up sacrificing the harmless João Félix in favor of Ferran, an attacker who plays more in space and makes good unchecks without being a fourth midfielder, a formula that has surprisingly disappeared, no matter how much the injuries to Gavi and Pedri influenced them. The imbalance was exacerbated by the strikers neither defending nor pressing, allowing Barcelona to relax and let their opponents have the pitch and the ball for transitions, even more so when they are as intense as Osasuna.
The newcomers followed each other for both goals until the Blaugrana, very vulnerable without the ball and slow to retreat, took control and dictated the tempo of the game based on the possession play of Sergi Roberto and Gündogan and the leadership of De Jong. The break and order overcame the dizziness of Barcelona's period of dominance, which was overly predictable and also aimless, particularly as they gained shooting positions against Sergio Herrera. Luckily for Osasuna, Lewandowski was unable to score the goal either from deep actions or from set pieces. Although they tried not to lose intensity, the Navarrese were forced to defend very early, to be erratic in their passing game and to be subjugated by Barça until they finally scored on Budimir.
The striker's appearance changed the tone of the game at times, as Osasuna had up to three consecutive chances that required Iñaki Peña's intervention. Arnaiz's shot and a break from Budimir against Araujo highlighted Barça's defensive tension after Raphinha was injured. Barça defenders succumb to defeat every time a striker like Budimir coughs up. No opponent needs to prepare the game to surprise Barça, but a few passes are enough for them to take on Peña. The goalkeeper held out and Barça breathed again thanks to Lamine Yamal's dribbling. In the absence of Balde, who was in a restricted zone on the left lane, the football turned to the right side of Koundé-Raphinha/Yamal.
There was neither agility nor ball speed from Barcelona's attackers to surprise Osasuna. The work of the media had no continuity and the team was often divided, out of sync in pressure and in receiving passes, due to the paralysis of the striker and the dizziness of a defense that did not know how to measure the space between the gap and Peña allowed become. Barça got stuck in the draft and found the solution in a ball steal from Christensen to Arnaiz, which allowed Gündogan to pass and eventually control Lewandowski's dry shot. The game was reviewed and upheld despite Osasuna's complaints. The goal calmed a Barça side bolstered by Gündogan and strengthened by the re-emergence of Pedri.
The context also benefited João Félix, who got off to a great start when he needed an excellent intervention from Sergio Herrera, forcing Arrasate to sacrifice a defender and use strikers to improve his attack against Peña. In any case, no one was more disruptive than Budimir, who was only reduced by the Barcelona goalkeeper. However, the Navarrese attack was fruitless and when the field was open and there was enough space, Xavi's boys finished the game with a goal from Yamal after a good performance from João Félix. A good end against Madrid.
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