Raphinha scored twice as Barca extends lead over Real Madrid to 7 points in La Liga

14/12/2025 07:15:00 esportapi

Forward Raphinha once again confirmed his vital role in Barcelona’s La Liga quest by scoring twice, directly ensuring a 2-0 win over Osasuna in round 17.

This outcome helps the Catalan side extend their lead over fierce rivals Real Madrid to 7 points in the league table.

At Camp Nou on the evening of December 13, Barcelona dominated the game almost entirely but were met by a disciplined Osasuna defense, which retreated deep with many players and received excellent support from goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.

From the opening minutes, Hansi Flick’s team pushed their line high, continuously launching attacks down the wings and through the middle. However, the visitors’ tightly organized defense and Herrera’s remarkable reflexes kept all Barca’s first-half attempts fruitless.

Forward Raphinha once again confirmed his vital role in Barcelona’s La Liga quest by scoring twice, directly ensuring a 2-0 win over Osasuna in round 17.

The home team took 13 shots before halftime—the highest in any half this season across all competitions—but still couldn’t score. Among these was a header by Ferran Torres that was disallowed due to offside.

In the second half, Barca increased the pressure, maintaining continuous attacking intensity and forcing Osasuna to retreat even deeper. After several missed chances, the deadlock was finally broken in the 70th minute. Receiving a pass from Pedri just outside the box, Raphinha controlled the ball cleanly before firing a sharp left-footed shot into the far corner, leaving Sergio Herrera no chance. This was the Brazilian’s 10th goal for Barca from outside the penalty area in all competitions, the best record for the club since the 2022-2023 season.

Not stopping there, Raphinha made a mark again in the 86th minute to complete his brace. Jules Kounde sent a cross from the right wing, and an Osasuna defender’s clearance attempt unintentionally allowed Raphinha to run onto the ball at the far post, easily tapping it into the empty net to seal a 2-0 victory for Barcelona.

The full three points help Barca firmly maintain their lead atop La Liga with 43 points, while extending the gap over Real Madrid—who still have a match against Alaves—to 7 points.

Beyond just the points, this win brought the Catalan club to several impressive milestones. Barca has now scored in 37 consecutive La Liga matches, accumulating 100 goals, equaling their best scoring streak in the league over the past decade, previously set under coach Ernesto Valverde during the 2018–2019 season.

Additionally, Barca has won their last seven La Liga games by margins of at least two goals, a feat they haven’t repeated since 2017.

Notably, Barcelona is currently the only team among Europe’s top five leagues this season to have four players with at least five goals each: Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha—clear evidence of the depth and balance in their attack.

Immediately after the Osasuna win, Raphinha and his teammates will focus on the Copa del Rey, where they will visit lower-division club Guadalajara in the round of 32 on December 16, aiming to continue their strong form and chase more silverware.

+Scorers: Raphinha 70', 86'

+Starting lineups

Barcelona: Joan Garcia, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Yamal, Rashford, Raphinha, Torres

Osasuna: Herrera, Arguibide, Boyomo, Catena, Herrando, Bretones, Moncayola, Torro, Oroz, Munoz, Budimir

Latest La Liga standings

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