Barcelona stand on the precipice of a second consecutive La Liga title after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Osasuna moved them 14 points clear at the summit.
Late strikes from Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres secured a tenth consecutive league win for Hansi Flick’s side, who could be crowned champions as early as tomorrow if Real Madrid fail to beat Espanyol.
In the absence of the injured Lamine Yamal, the Catalan giants lacked their usual dynamism and were nearly punished when Ante Budimir’s powerful effort rattled the post in the first half.
The game shifted following a decisive triple substitution by Flick, which saw Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford introduced to provide a much-needed injection of pace on the right flank.
Rashford proved instrumental, delivering a pinpoint cross in the 81st minute for Lewandowski to power home a header and break the deadlock at El Sadar.
Ferran Torres doubled the advantage shortly after with a clinical finish, though a late header from Raúl García ensured a nervous eight minutes of stoppage time for the visitors.
Despite the late scare, Barcelona’s defensive resilience held firm, moving the club to within touching distance of their 29th domestic league title.
If Real Madrid secure a win on Sunday, the stage will be set for a historic coronation on May 10, when Barcelona host their arch-rivals in a high-stakes El Clásico.
