Barcelona did not sparkle for 90 minutes, but they did something just as important: they handled the pressure and won. A late brace from Raphinha, on 70 and 86 minutes, pushed Barca past Osasuna 2-0 at Spotify Camp Nou, extending the team’s winning run to five matches in all competitions and opening a healthy seven-point lead at the top of La Liga.

It was a patient, grown-up win in front of 42,058 fans. It came one matchday before Real Madrid’s trip to Alaves, and just weeks after a heavy 3-0 Champions League loss at Chelsea. The response spoke loudly. This was not a showcase. It was a statement.

Raphinha decides Barcelona vs Osasuna at Spotify Camp Nou

For 70 minutes, Barcelona carried the ball, tilted the field, and asked questions. Osasuna, organized and stubborn, kept answering. Then Raphinha found the gap. The Brazilian took a pass from Pedri and ripped a sensational strike from outside the box to break the deadlock. It was a thumping finish, the kind of hit that cuts through doubt.

Sixteen minutes later, the winger sealed it. Jules Koundé overlapped down the right and whipped a low cross to the far post, where Raphinha ghosted in for a simple tap-in. Two shots, two moments of calm, three points. When wide play and patience did not produce earlier, Raphinha’s timing and movement did.

“Barça needed a grown-up win — Raphinha delivered.”

Control without reward, until minute 70

The pattern was familiar. Barcelona controlled the ball and built steady pressure. Lamine Yamal stretched the right flank. Ferran Torres looked to dart in behind. Marcus Rashford, operating across the front, kept defenders busy and opened lanes. Pedri knitted play together in the half-spaces. The moves were clean; the finish was missing.

That was mostly down to Sergio Herrera. Osasuna’s goalkeeper made several strong stops and stayed big in one-on-ones. He read crosses well and got his angles right. For long stretches, Barca were on top but could not land the punch. You could feel the tension rise in the stands with every saved shot and blocked cutback.

Osasuna were not just sitting back. They used the break when they could, and they nearly stole one when Víctor Muñoz broke free in transition and flashed a chance just wide. Had that gone in, we are likely telling a very different story.

“Seven points clear without being at full tilt — that’s title form.”

Why this La Liga win matters for the title race

Sometimes the value of a game is not buried in the highlight reel. This result pushed Barcelona seven points clear of Real Madrid at the summit. It nudges the pressure onto their rival before Madrid kick off at Alaves. It also shows that Barca can grind and still find a match-winner when the rhythm is not perfect.

Context matters. After the 3-0 defeat at Chelsea last month, Barcelona needed a stretch of solid, mistake-free football. That is what they have delivered: five straight wins across all competitions, a growing belief in the game plan, and a trusted set of leaders. This match was described by some around the club as “not vintage,” and that is fine. Titles are built on nights like this as much as on big-score romps.

Osasuna’s plan, Herrera’s resistance, and a missed chance

Osasuna came to Catalonia with clear ideas: compact lines, quick counters, and trust in their goalkeeper. For most of the game, it worked. Herrera’s reflexes and bravery earned him a share of the night’s praise, even in defeat. And that Muñoz chance was a true warning shot. If it had found the net, Barca would have had a mountain to climb.

But there is also a pattern Osasuna cannot ignore. This was their sixth straight league defeat in Catalonia without scoring. Against Barcelona specifically, the recent record tells a harsh story: since 2011 in all competitions, Barca have 23 wins, six draws, and only four losses from 33 meetings. Osasuna compete, they frustrate, but they have struggled to land the telling blow at this ground.

“Herrera was man of the match until minute 70; margins decide titles.”

The supporting cast: Pedri, Koundé, Yamal, Ferran, Rashford

Raphinha takes the headlines, and rightly so, but the buildup pieces mattered too. Pedri’s vision set the table for the opener. Koundé’s delivery to the far post for the second was precise and brave. Lamine Yamal’s runs kept width and forced Osasuna to defend deep. Ferran Torres added threat between the lines. Rashford’s movement pulled red shirts around and created space for late runs. It was a team effort that slowly wore down a compact block.

What stands out under pressure is decision-making. Barcelona did not force low-percentage shots. They kept switching the point of attack and trusted the final pass would appear. When it did, they were ready.

Numbers that frame the night

• Final score: Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna
• Goals: Raphinha 70′ (from Pedri’s pass), 86′ (tap-in from Koundé’s cross)
• Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou; Attendance: 42,058
• Referee: Adrián Cordero Vega
• Barcelona: five wins in a row across all competitions
• La Liga table: Barcelona now 7 points clear of Real Madrid
• Osasuna: six straight league defeats in Catalonia without scoring
• Head-to-head since 2011 (all comps): Barcelona 23W-6D-4L vs Osasuna

Big picture and what comes next

This was a big win, and the players knew it. It came late, it came from a wide player in form, and it showed maturity after a tough European night a few weeks back. The scoreline was earned, not gifted. Just as important, Barcelona showed they can bend a defensive game to their will without losing patience.

For Osasuna, the film session is clear: lots to like in the shape and the goalkeeper’s form, but a need for cleaner counters and a sharper final pass. One big chance away from changing the whole story is a good sign, yet the finishing drought in Catalonia will sting.

For Barcelona, the message is simple. Keep stacking points and let the chasing pack worry. With Madrid heading to Alaves next, the pressure swings across Spain. If Barca keep getting this level of control, and if Raphinha keeps this timing in the box, the seven-point cushion could become the foundation for something bigger.

It was not a vintage performance, and that is exactly why it mattered. On a chilly December night, Barcelona did the cool, professional thing. They won.