Late Lewandowski, Torres goals put Barcelona on verge of LaLiga title

Barcelona
moved to the brink of retaining the LaLiga title after Robert Lewandowski and
Ferran Torres struck late in a 2-1 victory at Osasuna on Saturday.
With four
games remaining, Barca top the table on 88 points, 14 clear of second-placed
Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and visit Espanyol on Sunday. Should
Madrid fail to win, Barcelona will be confirmed champions for the second
successive season.
Barca
broke through in the 81st minute when Marcus Rashford crossed from the right
and Lewandowski rose to head in. Five minutes later Fermin Lopez slipped Torres
clear and he finished low past Sergio Herrera.
Raul
Garcia pulled back a goal from close range two minutes later, but it was too
little too late for Osasuna.
"We've
now put the pressure on Real Madrid; if they don't win tomorrow, we'll be
crowned champions," Torres told DAZN.
"Today's
match was one of the toughest away fixtures in LaLiga. Those three points were
worth more than just three, and I think the team put in a brilliant
performance."
For much
of a slow-burning encounter at El Sadar, however, it was Osasuna who looked the
greater threat.
Barca
goalkeeper Joan Garcia proved the difference, producing a string of fine saves
to keep the visitors afloat. Ante Budimir struck the post from close range in
the 35th minute after bursting into the box on the counter attack, then curled
an effort towards the bottom corner two minutes later that Garcia tipped away
with the faintest touch.
The keeper
was at it again in the 69th minute, denying Ruben Garcia from the edge of the
area as Osasuna pressed on in pursuit of European qualification. The hosts are
10th on 42 points, just two behind sixth-placed Celta Vigo.
With
frustration mounting among the home support, Barcelona delivered a clinical
late blow.
In the
81st minute Rashford floated a precise cross from the right into the middle,
where Lewandowski jumped above his marker to nod past Herrera.
Five
minutes later Lopez threaded a clever through ball behind the defence for
Torres, who raced clear and slotted low beyond the keeper in a composed
one-on-one finish.
Garcia
pulled one back witha close-range header two minutes later, but Osasuna's rally
came too late as Barca moved to within touching distance of back-to-back league
titles.
















