Osasuna dismantle Barca’s perfect Liga start — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Osasuna shattered La Liga leaders Barcelona’s excellent begin to the season with an emphatic 4-2 victory on Saturday.

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The Catalans gained all seven of their opening fixtures however Hansi Flick’s rotated aspect got here badly undone in Pamplona as Ante Budimir scored a brace both aspect of Bryan Zaragoza’s strike.

Pau Victor had given Barca a lifeline to tug them again into the sport earlier than Budimir bagged his second from the penalty spot.

Abel Bretones added a sensational fourth from the sting of the field earlier than Lamine Yamal pulled one again with a fantastic effort of his personal.

Victory would have matched Barcelona’s best-ever begin to a league marketing campaign with eight consecutive wins, however they weren’t capable of construct on their four-point lead on second-place Actual Madrid.

The Spanish champions go to Atletico Madrid, third, in a derby conflict on Sunday.

“It’s regular there are rotations, there are numerous video games, it’s not an excuse,” Barcelona midfielder Pedri advised Movistar.

“Within the second half, we deserved a bit extra however we let in objectives once we had been at our greatest.”

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Forward of a Champions League match in opposition to Younger Boys on Tuesday, Flick shuffled his pack.

The coach handed begins to defenders Gerard Martin and Sergi Dominguez in addition to Pablo Torre in midfield and Victor in assault.

The coach rested Spain Euro 2024 starlet Yamal and Brazilian winger Raphinha amongst different common picks.

Because of this Barcelona did not ignite within the first half and Osasuna winger Zaragoza took center-stage.

Final season Zaragoza struck twice whereas taking part in for Granada in a 2-2 draw in opposition to Barca, a efficiency which helped earn him a transfer to Bayern Munich.

On mortgage from the German giants, Zaragoza created the opener for target-man Budimir with a fantastic cross, which the Croatian nodded residence with ease within the 18th minute after escaping the attentions of Dominguez.

Zaragoza completed the second himself 10 minutes later after being despatched by way of on objective, with the winger bypassing goalkeeper Inaki Pena with a fantastic ball roll after which slotting into the empty internet.

Barcelona complained there had been a foul on Victor within the build-up however the referee waved their complaints away.

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The leaders created little themselves, with one of the best opening falling to Ferran Torres. Nevertheless the Spanish winger miscontrolled on the sting of the field and was shortly swallowed up by the Osasuna protection.

Yamal, Raphinha and Ansu Fati warmed up at half-time, with Barcelona needing to show to their stars to mount a comeback.

Earlier than Flick had time to ship them on, Victor pulled Barcelona again into the sport.

Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera gave the ball away with a poor throw, intercepted by Martin, who fed Victor.

The ahead took an early shot from distance which Herrera, who slipped as he made it again to his objective, ought to have stored out however couldn’t.

Flick took off high scorer Robert Lewandowski, largely uninvolved, with 20 minutes remaining and moved Torres into the center to fill the hole.

Nevertheless Osasuna virtually instantly stretched their lead when 19-year-old centre-back Dominguez scythed down Budimir within the space as he went to shoot.

The striker buried the penalty with a low effort hit exhausting sufficient to beat Pena though he dived the precise approach.

Ruben Pena wasted a wonderful likelihood to seize a fourth as he ran in on objective however was caught in two minds whether or not to go or shoot, and Eric Garcia charged again to dispossess him as he dawdled.

Bretones, however, was deadly from the sting of the field when he gained the ball again and powered an effort previous Barca goalkeeper Pena.

Yamal hit again brilliantly from vary and teed up Torres who struck the submit, but it surely was too little, too late.

Osasuna rose to sixth and Zaragoza stated his staff had been decided to beat the leaders.

“We knew Barca had been an unbelievable staff, they’d gained every part and we knew we needed to get caught into it, and that’s how we went on the market,” defined the winger.

“It’s a particular recreation and very nice to play in.”