Barcelona is set to resume their La Liga campaign after the international break, hosting Osasuna in a rescheduled match originally planned for March 8th. The game was postponed due to the passing of Barcelona doctor Carles Minarro Garcia. Both clubs objected to the new date due to fixture congestion, but La Liga upheld the rescheduling.
Barcelona will miss key players Raphinha and Ronald Araujo for this match. Both players were on international duty in South America just days before the game. Raphinha played in Brazil`s defeat to Argentina, while Araujo featured in Uruguay`s draw with Bolivia.
Hansi Flick`s Barcelona currently shares the top spot in La Liga with Real Madrid, but they have a game in hand. This match against Osasuna is their 28th league game of the season. Barcelona will also play Girona at home on Sunday, while Real Madrid will host Leganes on Saturday.
Match Details
- Date: Thursday, Mar. 27
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Olimpico Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- Watch: ESPN+
Previous Encounter
When Barcelona and Osasuna last met on September 28, 2024, Osasuna surprisingly defeated Barcelona 4-2 at El Sadar stadium. This victory ended Barcelona`s perfect start to the season under new manager Hansi Flick, who had previously won all seven of his La Liga matches.
Team News: Barcelona
Hansi Flick confirmed that Raphinha and Araujo will not be available for the Osasuna game due to their late return from international duty. Flick mentioned that Inigo Martinez and Eric Garcia will start in defense, with Cubarsi starting on the bench to rest but available if needed.
Team News: Osasuna
Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno stated that they are adapting their preparations due to the changed match date. He acknowledged the difficulty of facing Barcelona, especially at home, highlighting Barcelona`s strong La Liga results.
Predicted Lineups
FC Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Garcia, Martinez, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Olmo, Fermin; Lewandowski.
Osasuna: Herrera; Areso, Catena, Herrando, Cruz; Moncayola, Ibanez, Oroz; Ru. Garcia, Gomez, Budimir.
Player to Watch: Lamine Yamal
Youngster Lamine Yamal is expected to be a key player for Barcelona in Raphinha`s absence. Yamal has impressed this season with six La Liga goals and recently scored a notable goal for Spain against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League.
Key Storyline: Barcelona`s Absences
Barcelona faces a challenge managing key absences, particularly Raphinha and Araujo. Despite Barcelona`s request to postpone the match due to player fatigue after international duty, La Liga declined. A win for Barcelona would extend their lead over Real Madrid to three points and Atletico Madrid to seven.
Match Prediction
Despite missing players, Barcelona is favored to win at home against Osasuna. This victory would increase pressure on Real Madrid ahead of their weekend match. Prediction: FC Barcelona 2, Osasuna 0.
Dominic Ashworth