FC Barcelona started their grueling 12 day run of games in style, disposing of CA Osasuna 3-0 at the Lluis Companys Olimpic Stadium Thursday night. Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski were on target for Barca as they now hold a 3-point lead over Real Madrid in the La Liga title race.
It was a game neither team wanted to play so close to the close of the international break, and it came at a cost for Barca as Dani Olmo went down with an adductor injury in the 28th minute after converting a 21st minute penalty to put Barca in the lead 2-0. Fermin Lopez came on for the injured Olmo and provided the assist on Lewandowski´s 2nd half goal.
Torres rewarded coach Hansi Flick for his selection in the first IX with his 11th minute tap in from an Alejandro Balde cross and overall played very well before giving way to Lewandowki in the 68th minute. Along with Lewandowski being rested, Flick was able to replace Frenkie de Jong at halftime with Pablo Torre and Gerard Martin and Pau Victor came on late to spell Balde and Pedri.
It was a game Flick needed to find rest for players with Girona FC ahead on Sunday, a complicated Catalan derby match where the pressure will be on Barca to retain their 3 point La Liga lead.
With Ronald Araujo just returning from international duty the night before the match, Eric Garcia had to fill in at center back with Pau Cubarsi injured and Garcia responded with a solid match alongside Iñigo Martinez.
Martinez´s involvement in the match will be a point of discussion as Osasuna filed an official protest with La Liga after the match due to him playing. FIFA rules state that any player withdrawn from a national team call up due to injury can´t feature for their club until 5 days after the international break has ended.
Martinez withdrew from his Spain call up with an injury but was able to recover in time to play against Osasuna, causing the controversy. However, Barca apparently did their due diligence checking with both the Spanish Federation and La Liga before announcing Martinez in the team, and Osasuna´s appeal is said to have little standing.
Barca now prepare for Girona FC on Sunday, in what will be yet another difficult and equally important match in their quest for the La Liga title. Flick again needs to be careful with squad selection and substitutions with Wednesday´s Copa del Rey clash at Atletico Madrid on the horizon.