Barcelona defender Jordi Alba got here off the bench to strike late on and safe a 1-0 victory over a 10-man Osasuna at Camp Nou on Tuesday as the house facet moved a step nearer to clinching their twenty seventh LaLiga title.
Barca moved to 82 factors from 33 matches and prolonged their result in 14 factors over second-placed Actual Madrid, who play at fourth-place Actual Sociedad in a while Tuesday.
With 5 video games remaining, Barcelona are 4 factors away from profitable the title with Actual Madrid on 68 factors and, within the best-case situation, would solely have the ability to attain 86 factors.
If outcomes go their means, Barca may safe the trophy in entrance of their followers on Might 21, towards Actual Sociedad at Camp Nou.
Barca missed a string of possibilities towards a dogged Osasuna who defended with tenacity whereas taking part in a lot of the match with 10 males.
Following defender Jorge Herrando’s crimson card for a foul that prevented Pedri from scoring halfway by way of the first-half, Osasuna managed to hold on till the eighty fifth minute, when Robert Lewandowski crossed to Frenkie de Jong, who nodded the ball to Alba who hit a left footed strike into the web.
“It was an necessary step as a result of we suffered an excessive amount of (in making an attempt) to interrupt the impasse,” coach Xavi Hernandez instructed DAZN.
“We missed some very clear alternatives. After which got here Jordi’s objective, which nearly makes it higher to win like that.
“We lacked effectiveness however it a abstract of the season, struggling to attain the numerous possibilities we create, however we performed with starvation and I believe we deserved to win.
“The league is nearly over. That is the feeling after profitable the final two video games. It was a large step.”
Barca’s profligacy began earlier than Herrando’s crimson card, with Pedri lacking a sitter from close-range within the twenty fifth minute.
Raphinha despatched a free-kick vast from the sting of the field and coach Xavi needed to deliver Ansu Fati off the bench just a little later for an injured Gavi.
Araujo, De Jong, Ansu Fati and Lewandowski all missed clear possibilities, whereas the Polish striker additionally had a objective dominated out by VAR attributable to an offside within the build-up within the 78th minute.
With the sport wanting destined to finish goalless, Alba ghosted behind the defence to attain a intelligent shot between the goalkeeper and the best publish to edge Barca nearer to the title.