Osasuna vs Barcelona, live online: first half, score, stats & updates ...
Osasuna get down the right and Areso fires in a low cross that is cleared for a corner by Christensen.
as.comPosted at: 16:25EDT03/09/2023
Barça are bailing water as things stand... and their bucket has a hole in the bottom.
as.comPosted at: 16:24EDT03/09/2023
A surge of laughter goes up around the ground as Lewandowski is heavily shoulder barged by Catena, who absolutely floors the Barcelona player.
No foul.
as.comPosted at: 16:23EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna are pinning Barcelona back into their own box and currently have their tails up, attacking relentlessly.
as.comPosted at: 16:22EDT03/09/2023
A big shout for a penalty as an Osasuna player is shoved over inside the box... the referee says no
as.comPosted at: 16:22EDT03/09/2023
It's a poor effort and Barça defend easily.
as.comPosted at: 16:19EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna corner incoming...
as.comPosted at: 16:19EDT03/09/2023
Kike Barja, Budimir & Chimy ON
Rubén G, Arnáiz and Raúl G OFF
as.comPosted at: 16:19EDT03/09/2023
Barcelona build up a slow attack that ends with a poor pass attempted by Lewandowski that is cut out. Osasuna counter-attack and win a corner.
as.comPosted at: 16:18EDT03/09/2023
Back underway.
as.comPosted at: 16:16EDT03/09/2023
That's Barcelona's entire right side changed by Xavi.
as.comPosted at: 16:16EDT03/09/2023
Cancelo & Ferran ON
S. Roberto & Yamal OFF
as.comPosted at: 16:15EDT03/09/2023
João Cancelo is preparing to come on.
as.comPosted at: 16:15EDT03/09/2023
Barcelona cannot find a second on the ball: Osasuna's press, driven on by the crowd, is smothering the blue shirts.
as.comPosted at: 16:14EDT03/09/2023
If Osasuna score, this stadium is going to explode...
as.comPosted at: 16:13EDT03/09/2023
Oriol Romeu plays what might be his first pass into the Osasuna box: unfortunately it's a poor effort that is terribly chipped straight into the grasp of Aitor.
as.comPosted at: 16:13EDT03/09/2023
Gavi is back!
as.comPosted at: 16:10EDT03/09/2023
An Osasuna attack goes to waste after Rubén García's cross is easily stopped by Ter Stegen in the Barça goal. However, that was a positive move from the home side, who had Barcelona scrambling as they doubled up again on the right side, where Balde was stood like a small child lost in his parents' second-choice supermarket.
as.comPosted at: 16:12EDT03/09/2023
We're back underway.
Gavi is still off the pitch.
as.comPosted at: 16:09EDT03/09/2023
It's Gavi's ear that is bleeding, and quite energetically so.
as.comPosted at: 16:08EDT03/09/2023
Gavi is down holding his face after taking an elbow in the eye from an Rubén García.
as.comPosted at: 16:07EDT03/09/2023
And now it's time for Osasuna to attack!
as.comPosted at: 16:07EDT03/09/2023
Lewandowski gets on the end of a sly pass through the lines from De Jong but not only was his shot off target, he was offside.
as.comPosted at: 16:06EDT03/09/2023
CHANCE FOR BARÇA!
as.comPosted at: 16:06EDT03/09/2023
It's a positive start from Barcelona, who have Osasuna pinned back in their own third.
as.comPosted at: 16:06EDT03/09/2023
New signing João Cancelo has started to warm up on the touchline alongside Ferran Torres.
as.comPosted at: 16:05EDT03/09/2023
21,966 fans are inside the stadium today.
as.comPosted at: 16:05EDT03/09/2023
Barcelona start with the ball and Osasuna press them hard, much like in the first half.
as.comPosted at: 16:04EDT03/09/2023
No changes for either side.
as.comPosted at: 16:02EDT03/09/2023
Second half underway!
Osasuna kick us off!
as.comPosted at: 16:02EDT03/09/2023
Almost ready to go!
Here come the players for the second half!
as.comPosted at: 16:02EDT03/09/2023
The man of the moment!
The Frenchman's header is the difference so far!
as.comPosted at: 15:54EDT03/09/2023
Will Barça get the record?
It will take a mammoth-sized effort to hold onto this result in such a hostile ground, so let's see if they can do it.
as.comPosted at: 15:54EDT03/09/2023
Half-time score:
Well, I'd be lying if I said that Barcelona deserve to be ahead.
Osasuna have piled on the pressure for 46 minutes and have been relentless, especially after a wobbly first 10 saw Barça have a string of good chances to score.
The home side have given poor Balde at left-back a torrid time, with Areso doubling up with his teammates to overload the player and take advantage of the space he leaves behind.
The chances for Osasuna have been saved by Ter Stegen, who, can now be forgiven for a few dodgy passes early on.
Barça, it must be said, have had their fair share of chances too: the closest, before the goal, coming from De Jong, who hit the post.
De Jong has led the side in the midfield and is perhaps the only bright spark of a Barça side who started well and finished well: everything else in the middle can probably be forgotten about.
as.comPosted at: 15:52EDT03/09/2023
Half time!
A late, late goal from Barça sees them go into the break ever-so-slightly in front!
as.comPosted at: 15:48EDT03/09/2023
A simple goal - a wonderful header from a corner!
The French defender jumped the highest and sent a beautiful header to the far corner of the goal!
as.comPosted at: 15:46EDT03/09/2023
as.comPosted at: 15:46EDT03/09/2023
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
KOUNDE SCORES
as.comPosted at: 15:46EDT03/09/2023
We're into the final minute of normal time in the first half...
as.comPosted at: 15:44EDT03/09/2023
It's De Jong again for Barça, as it has been all game. This time, the midfielder drives through the midfield line of Osasuna and slides a delightful pass through towards Gavi, who is trying to break behind the defence. Areso covers well and clears.
as.comPosted at: 15:44EDT03/09/2023
A half chance for Barcelona as Kounde gets bored of playing it around the back line and fires a long-range effort that is saved by Aitor.
as.comPosted at: 15:42EDT03/09/2023
Areso is booked for a foul on Gavi.
as.comPosted at: 15:41EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna, with 5 minutes to go, are still piling on the pressure on Barça's defence.
as.comPosted at: 15:41EDT03/09/2023
Barça players are not happy at some of the decisions from the referee...
as.comPosted at: 15:39EDT03/09/2023
De Jong conducts an almost perfect move from the edge of the box before driving in, bouncing the ball off the feet of Lewandowski. The cross from the Dutch midfielder is eventually blocked and sent out of play.
as.comPosted at: 15:38EDT03/09/2023
Barcelona come forward for the first time in 3,000 years. Yamal skips past Juan Cruz and plays a weak cross into the centre of the box that is easily cleared.
as.comPosted at: 15:36EDT03/09/2023
Barcelona are struggling here; Osasuna are fully on top and are dragging poor Balde all over the pitch.
as.comPosted at: 15:34EDT03/09/2023
Lewandowski gets the first yellow of the game for a hand to Herrando's face.
as.comPosted at: 15:33EDT03/09/2023
The work down the right was simplybreathtaking: a stunning flick from Rubén García allowed Areso down the right and the cross met Aimar who shot towards the far corner... but Ter Stegen was there!!!
as.comPosted at: 15:33EDT03/09/2023
WHAT A MOVE FROM OSASUNA!!!!
as.comPosted at: 15:31EDT03/09/2023
WHAT A SAVE FROM TER STEGEN!!!!!
as.comPosted at: 15:31EDT03/09/2023
Lewandowski has dropped very, very deep, presumably in an effort to drag his team forward, as they've been very quiet for about 5 minutes now and allowed Osasuna to find their feet.
as.comPosted at: 15:30EDT03/09/2023
Catena connects with a dropping ball and hits a low shot that pinballs through a gaggle of players inside the box. Luckily for Barça, the ball slows right down and is nice and simple for Ter Stegen to collect.
as.comPosted at: 15:29EDT03/09/2023
Areso drives inside from the right, skips past one, two, three players and launches a missile towards goal... that is blocked.
I think we all saw his name in lights for a second!
as.comPosted at: 15:28EDT03/09/2023
The ball drops kindly to Lewandowski on the edge of the box and the striker fires a shot that flies centrally and into the warm grasp of Aitor.
as.comPosted at: 15:26EDT03/09/2023
Xavi is arguing with the fourth official. Tick that off your bingo card.
as.comPosted at: 15:24EDT03/09/2023
Fantastic work from Osasuna.
Aimar twists and turns in the middle of the pitch and plays to Arnaiz, whose shot is ferocious and well stopped by Ter Stegen after Kounde had forced the forward out wide.
as.comPosted at: 15:24EDT03/09/2023
BIG SAVE FROM TER STEGEN
as.comPosted at: 15:23EDT03/09/2023
Corner to Osasuna after another promising attack...
Ter Stegen punches away.
as.comPosted at: 15:22EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna decide it's their turn to attack and Areso does fabulously well against Balde on the right wing. The cross comes in but unfortunately for the home side nobody is there to meetit.
as.comPosted at: 15:21EDT03/09/2023
A great chance for the away side!
De Jong gets ahead of Balde and the left back finds him on the byline. The Dutchman pulls the ball back to the penalty spot but nobody is there to stick a foot on the end of the pass.
as.comPosted at: 15:20EDT03/09/2023
A couple of decisions in favour of Barcelona have really got the already loud crowd whistling like a box of mad parrots. The noise is tremendous!
as.comPosted at: 15:19EDT03/09/2023
Ter Stegen has made two errors at the back now, mainly thanks to Osasuna's uber-high press on the German. Something to keep an eye on, perhaps.
as.comPosted at: 15:17EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna's press, as you can probably tell from my recent comments, has been keeping the blaugrana at bay over the past couple of minutes. They away side are patiently waiting for the right moment to move into the final third.
as.comPosted at: 15:16EDT03/09/2023
I've just seen Xavi shout "SERGI" about five times to no reply from the right back. That's how loud it is at El Sadar...
as.comPosted at: 15:15EDT03/09/2023
Gundogan's run goes nowhere as he's fouled by Aimar, but my oh my, what a flick through the legs of the midfielder. *Drool emoji*
as.comPosted at: 15:14EDT03/09/2023
Great work from Kounde, who gets back to steal the long ball away from Arnaiz.
Ter Stegen collects the smart defensive header.
as.comPosted at: 15:12EDT03/09/2023
Romeu, after a long spell of possession, finds Yamal on the right. The winger takes a touch inside and shoots, which is blocked.
The ball bounces out to Gundogan in the box but the reactions from the German needed to be lightning fast just to make contact with the ball and he sent hisshot wide of the goal.
as.comPosted at: 15:11EDT03/09/2023
HUGE CHANCE FOR BARCELONA
as.comPosted at: 15:10EDT03/09/2023
A long ball nearly finds Lewandowski but Osasuna's back line moves well to close off the space for the Pole.
as.comPosted at: 15:09EDT03/09/2023
Ibáñez has Osasuna's first shot of the game: a nice effort from the right side of the box after Balde was caught out in his defensive third.
as.comPosted at: 15:08EDT03/09/2023
Juan Cruz at left-back does excellently well to get back and cover the spacethatYamal spotted and broke into; that was almost a 1vs1 for the young winger...
as.comPosted at: 15:07EDT03/09/2023
Balde gets forward and fires a low cross into the box which is well blocked by Catena.
as.comPosted at: 15:05EDT03/09/2023
Barça are settling into their possession game; a nice string of passes in the middle third have dragged various players out of position.
as.comPosted at: 15:05EDT03/09/2023
What a frantic start to the game!
Osasuna bite back with a few attacks but the ball ends in the hands of Ter Stegen.
as.comPosted at: 15:03EDT03/09/2023
De Jong chipped over to Gundogan on the line who, instead of shooting, played backwards towards Lewandowski.
The ball fell to Frenkie whose volley hit the post and Lewandowski fired the rebound wide form close range!
as.comPosted at: 15:03EDT03/09/2023
RIGHT AWAY! GUNDOGAN! DE JONG! EVERYONE!
as.comPosted at: 15:02EDT03/09/2023
BIG CHANCE FOR BARCELONA
as.comPosted at: 15:01EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna press Barça all the way back to goal and sit there, following their every move.
as.comPosted at: 15:01EDT03/09/2023
as.comPosted at: 15:00EDT03/09/2023
And we're off in Pamplona!
Barça kick us off from left to right...
as.comPosted at: 15:00EDT03/09/2023
How the kits look:
Osasuna are in their red - blue - red home strip; Barça are in all blue.
Sorry, aqua.
as.comPosted at: 14:58EDT03/09/2023
Here come the teams!
The two sides are out on the pitch and we are awaiting the green light for kick off!
as.comPosted at: 14:55EDT03/09/2023
Just over ten minutes to go!
The teams are finishing their warmups and are getting ready to head down the tunnel to prepare for KO!
as.comPosted at: 14:48EDT03/09/2023
Lluis Gene / AFP
Where is Ansu?
Where is Ansu? You may be asking...
Well, the poor lad has packed his bags and is off to Brighton.
The young winger has had his injury troubles and is looking to pick up peak form once again, this time in the Premier League with the Seagulls.
If he regains his form, he could be one of the best players in the league and will undoubtedly return to Spain ready to fight for his place in the XI.
as.comPosted at: 14:43EDT03/09/2023
A reminder of the starting XIs:
If you've just joined us then welcome!
Here's a reminder of the starting XIs of the two sides:
OSASUNA:
GK: Aitor Fdez
DEF: Cruz - Herrando - Catena - Areso
MID: Muñoz - Aimar Oroz - Ibáñez
ATT: Rubén García - Raúl García - Arnaiz
***
BARCELONA:
GK: Ter Stegen
DEF: Roberto - Kounde - Christensen - Balde
MID: Romeu - De Jong - Gundogan
ATT: Yamal - Lewandowski - Gavi
as.comPosted at: 14:33EDT03/09/2023
The two Joãos are here!
None of the Joãos are in the starting XI today, but their skillsets are perfect for breaking down a defensive team which we might see today.
Also, has anyone seen them apart from each other since they arrived? Maybe my thoery is correct...
as.comPosted at: 14:27EDT03/09/2023
Bruno Fahy / AFP
Osasuna's Euro dream is over...
Poor Osasuna, after a huge legal case of whether or not they were allowed into European competition despite having qualified (basically their old owners did naughty things and the new owners were set to be punished for it, despite them being the ones who called the whole thing out).
They got through to the qualifying rounds after a fantastic league campaign but they got drawn again against perhaps the toughest opponents possible at this level: Club Brugge.
They lost over two legs and unfortunately didn't make it to the group stage of the competition.
as.comPosted at: 14:22EDT03/09/2023
Xavi pre-game quotes:
A fantastic job has been during the transfer market. We are happy.
João Félix fits in 100%. He is a natural talent. He scores and he can make the difference. He's a versatile player who can operate anywhere in attack.
We will compete [in the UEFA Champions League]. We are focused on topping the group but it won't be easy.
Osasuna is an intense rival with the same coach for many years. They are a rugged team and strong at home. They were eliminated from the Europa Conference League, but they have a good squad, and it will be a challenge. It’s a tough away game for us.
I always have the maximum enthusiasm. I am a club man and try to adapt to circumstances. Mateu, Deco, Jordi, the president, Rafa… everyone has done a great job. We are excited about how the squad has shaped up.
Barça arrive at the stadium!
The blaugrana are already at El Sadar and have started their match day preparations for the upcoming clash.
as.comPosted at: 14:09EDT03/09/2023
The LAFC defender signed for FC Barcelonaand will initially form part of their B team.
The highly-rated defender spent last season on loan at Villarreal in eastern Spain and as such, is not a complete novice when it comes to paella and patatas bravas.
On a more serious note, his spell in the league last year does mean that he comes to Barcelona with a sense of how things work in the country, and that should help him a lot when it comes to getting to know his new teammates and working his way up the ranks to hopefully play with the first team.
His breakthrough campaign came in 2021 when he made 36 appearances for the MLS side; he played 25 times in LaLiga 2 for Villarreal’s second team and just once for the senior side.
as.comPosted at: 14:08EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna change things up for Barça clash:
Osasuna have made a couple of changes from their last league game, given they also played midweek against Club Brugge: David García and Kike barja drop out, the latter due to injury.
as.comPosted at: 14:02EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna starting XI:
GK: Aitor Fdez
DEF: Cruz - Herrando - Catena - Areso
MID: Muñoz - Aimar Oroz - Ibáñez
ATT: Rubén García - Raúl García - Arnaiz
as.comPosted at: 13:59EDT03/09/2023
Just one change for Barcelona
It's just the left-back who has changed from Barça's 3-4 win against Villarreal last weekend, with Balde coming in for Marcos Alonso
Other than that, it's the same as we've been used to given Pedri's injury.
as.comPosted at: 13:56EDT03/09/2023
Barça's XI is in!
GK: Ter Stegen
DEF: Roberto - Kounde - Christensen - Balde
MID: De Jong - Gundogan - Romeu
ATT: Yamal - Lewandowski - Gavi
as.comPosted at: 13:49EDT03/09/2023
It can sometimes go very wrong, even for those stars with bags of ability, so how did it play out for Xavi's new recruits?
While we wait on Xavi and Jagoba to drop the teamnews, why don't you have a look atthe silky skills that the Joãos were pulling off in their joint presentation yesterday.
I don't know why, but I have the image of them doing everything together, exactly at the same time. Spooky horror film twins levels of weird.
as.comPosted at: 13:42EDT03/09/2023
Los Rojillos have arrived at El Sadar!
Not long to go until the team news is out.
We'll keep you updated every step of the way.
as.comPosted at: 13:38EDT03/09/2023
Barça release new threads for the game
Barcelona’s new light blue - sorry, ‘light aqua’ blue away kit, according to the club, “evokes inspiration and creativity, highlights what Barça represent, the history, the playing style, and the young La Masia-formed talents who are a source of inspiration for all.”
If they say so, who am I to argue? I think it looks lovely. Very David Villa in 2010-11.
as.comPosted at: 13:37EDT03/09/2023
Ander Gillenea / AFP
Who's the ref?
Miguel Ángel Otriz Arias is the four-named man with the whistle round his neck for today’s clash.
The 38-year-old has overseen two games so far this season: Villarreal 1-2 Betis and Real Sociedad 1-1 Celta Vigo, and has shown 7 yellow cards and 0 red cards this season as things stand.
Señor Guillermo Cuandra Fernández is the VAR referee. Let’s hope he has a quiet one and we don’t have to hear too much from him today. Quiet VAR is good VAR.
as.comPosted at: 13:31EDT03/09/2023
Where are Osasuna in the league?
As for Osasuna, they’re slightly below in 9th, as they have won 2 and lost one game so far this season.
A win for the home side would see them move onto 9 points and they would be up and around the European places in the early stage of the campaign.
BET
RSO
OSA
ALA
VAL
as.comPosted at: 13:25EDT03/09/2023
How the top of the table looks so far...
Barcelona are currently in 4th place on 7 points, after having won 2 and drawn 1 of their three games so far.
Of course, a win today would see them move onto 10 points, just two behind Real Madrid at the top of the tree.
GIR
ATM
BCN
ATH
CAD
as.comPosted at: 13:19EDT03/09/2023
Last 5 meetings between Barça and Osasuna:
The fixture has been one with positive results for Barcelona over the past few years, but El Sadar, Osasuna's home stadium, is a notoriously tricky ground to travel to and getting a result there is not an easy task.
Here are the last 5 results of the games between the two sides so you can get a feel of how things have gone over recent seasons:
02/05/23: Barça 1-0 Osasuna
08/11/22: Osasuna 1-2 Barça
13/03/22: Barça 4-0 Osasuna
12/12/22: Osasuna 2-2 Barça
06/03/21: Osasuna 0-2 Barça
as.comPosted at: 13:06EDT03/09/2023
Osasuna team news:
Kike Barja and Brasanac are the only two official injuries we know about at this moment, but manager Jagoba Arrasate hinted that he may make changes to his side given the fatigue and niggling injuries that have affected the squad over the past week.
What comes as a plus for Osasuna is that their talented spine of superheroes are indeed set to start: David García, Moncayola and Chimy Ávila.
as.comPosted at: 13:04EDT03/09/2023
Pau Barrena / AFP
OK, here's the big Barça news...
OK; there’s no point you and I looking at each other crouched on the ground, peering through the gap between two huge, white elephants.
The Joãos, Félix and Cancelo, joined Barcelona late on deadline day while everyone else was wondering what on earth happened to Ansu Fati.
The wing-back and midfielder join on loan until the end of the season.
"Everyone knows that I am happy to be here, it is a dream for me. I come to help the team and it is a unique feeling. When they told me that Barça were interested I was very happy. In the end, thanks to everyone's effort it has been possible," said Félix, who made it abundantly clear he was happy to be somewhere new.
as.comPosted at: 13:02EDT03/09/2023
Barcelona team news:
Well, away from the transfer talk, which we’ll get to in a mo, the main new-but-not-so-new face in the Barça squad is that of Iñigo Martínez.
The ex-Athletic Club defender joined in the summer but is yet to feature due to an injury.
He’s back and ready to go and has been called up to Xavi’s match day squad for the first time.
Pedri and Ronald Araujo are the two main absences.
as.comPosted at: 13:57EDT03/09/2023
Welcome!
Hello hello! Welcome along to the AS USA live coverage of the Osasuna vs Barcelona game in La Liga!
It’s Joe here today to guide you through this tough early season test for the current league champions.
as.comPosted at: 13:00EDT03/09/2023