FC Barcelona is back in La Liga action after the international break, facing Osasuna on Thursday in a rescheduled game that was originally set for March 8 but postponed due to the death of Barcelona doctor Carles Minarro Garcia. Both teams appealed against the rescheduled date due to their congested schedules and proximity to the international window, but La Liga rejected both appeals.
Notably, the home side will be without Brazilian striker Raphinha and Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo, as both were involved in South American international fixtures on Tuesday night. Raphinha played in Brazil`s 4-1 defeat to Argentina, while Araujo featured in Uruguay`s 0-0 draw against Bolivia.
Hansi Flick`s team currently leads La Liga, tied on points with Real Madrid but with a game in hand. Barcelona will play their 28th La Liga game of the season on Thursday. This weekend, Flick`s side will host Girona on Sunday, while Carlo Ancelotti`s Real Madrid will host Leganes on Saturday before Barcelona`s match.
How to Watch & Odds
- Date: Thursday, March 27
- Time: 4:00 PM ET
- Location: Estadio Olimpico Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- Stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Barcelona -360; Draw +500; Osasuna +800
Last Meeting
Barcelona and Osasuna last met on September 28, 2024, in a La Liga match at Osasuna`s El Sadar stadium. The home side surprisingly won 4-2, ending Barcelona`s and their new manager`s perfect start. Flick had won all seven La Liga games in charge in the 2024-25 season before that defeat.
What FC Barcelona is Saying
German manager Hansi Flick confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Raphinha and Araujo would not be in the squad. “They are returning from a long journey, and it`s not ideal for recovery.” Regarding Araujo`s absence, Flick revealed lineup details: “Inigo and Eric will play, and Cubarsi will be on the bench,” adding that bench duty for the young defender is “best for him to rest for a few days, but if needed, he can come on.”
What Osasuna is Saying
Head coach Vicente Moreno told the media before the Barcelona game: “Things always change, and this time will be no different. We prepared for the game then as best we could, and we`ll do the same tomorrow. We have a clear idea of what we want to do, knowing we face an opponent that sometimes allows you to execute your plan, and sometimes doesn`t – not just us, but most teams. You only have to look at their La Liga results, especially at home, where they`ve achieved significant results.”
Predicted Lineups
FC Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Garcia, Martinez, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Olmo, Fermin; Lewandowski.
Osasuna: Herrera; Areso, Catena, Herrando, Cruz; Moncayola, Ibanez, Oroz; R. Garcia, Gomez, Budimir.
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal, FC Barcelona: The Spanish talent will need to step up with Raphinha unavailable. Yamal has been outstanding this season, scoring six goals in 24 La Liga games. He also returns from an impressive international break with Spain, having scored a stunning goal against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, further highlighting his importance.
Key Storyline
FC Barcelona Needs to Cope with Absences: As the manager highlighted, this will be a challenging match for Barcelona due to key absences, including Raphinha and Araujo. Barcelona wanted to avoid playing twice in less than 72 hours after the international break, with most players returning on Wednesday. They requested a postponement, but La Liga refused. A Barcelona win, however, would give them a solid three-point lead over Real Madrid and a seven-point lead over Atletico Madrid.
Prediction
The home team is expected to take all three points on Thursday despite the absences, putting pressure on their rivals, especially Real Madrid, who will need to respond on Saturday against Leganes at the Santiago Bernabeu. Prediction: FC Barcelona 2, Osasuna 0.
