The leader's normality returns, Hansi Flick's Barça returns

BarcelonaDespite the travel and all the conditioning from the damned FIFA virus, Barça came out with a vengeance against a poor Osasuna side, turning the Navarrese side's awkward visit to Montjuïc into a formality, where they ended up making waves (3-0). Against a team with plenty of rotation, a much-lauded Ferran Torres showed he's still sharp in front of goal and paved the way for a victory marred by another muscle injury to Dani Olmo. With the victory, Hansi Flick's Barça remain top of La Liga with three points more than Real Madrid.

The contagious energy of players like Ferran and Gavi fueled the Blaugrana, who went from strength to strength. With an electric start, plenty of mobility, circulating the ball at a blistering speed, the first chances were soon to arrive. The script was clear: an active Frenkie de Jong was tasked with detecting the space on the left that Gavi freed up for Balde's runs. This led to the first chance, which Iker Muñoz managed to deny at the last minute. In the second, in an almost identical move, De Jong again set up the rocket Balde, and Ferran, again looking for the near post, was able to slot home.

The Valencian, a supporting actor who seems to have found his place at Barça, has already scored 14 goals this season. And he wanted more. Fernando smelled blood. Constantly probing for space, making a dance of his free runs. After the first, in less than five minutes, he came close to scoring a second. A delicious pass from Lamine Yamal and the Valencian attempted a shot, but Sergio Herrera, becoming a giant, managed to deflect it. With his runs behind the Osasuna defense, Ferran showed the way forward. The visitors' back line was sold, dizzy against the speed of Barça's forwards and midfielders, undetectable by an opponent who only managed to chase shadows.

Dani Olmo scores a penalty and is injured

Pedri and Dani Olmo replicated the action performed just before by Lamine Yamal and Ferran. The Canary Islander was the passer, and the Terrassa native was the finisher. This time Herrera brought down Olmo, who took charge of converting the penalty. He did so on the second attempt because the Osasuna goalkeeper had guessed the trajectory of the shot, but the penalty had to be retaken because an opposing defender entered the area prematurely. On the second attempt, the Barça number 20 made no mistake.

It would be the last thing Olmo could do in the match, because shortly after, he went down with muscle problems again. These types of groin injuries are a major burden on this season's most prestigious signing. The Terrassa native left the pitch dejected. He had managed to make eight consecutive appearances, six with Barça and two with the Spanish national team, and had made the starting spot his own, but he is a fragile player. The packed schedule that Flick complains about (quite rightly) has ended up affecting a player constantly haunted by the specter of injuries. The news is a cold shower, and the competition doesn't stop: Girona, Atlético (and a possible Copa del Rey final at the end of the month), Betis, Borussia Dortmund...

Without Olmo, replaced by Fermín, the Catalans continued to lead the first half, having fun at the expense of others, having fun at their own expense. Even Szczesny drew a standing ovation from the lively Montjuïc crowd, after cutting in while being pressured by two opposing forwards. With the score at 2-0, the rest of the first half was a walk in the park. Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Ferran, with a free kick that hit the crossbar, pampered the third for a Barça side that slowed down a bit.

Lewandowski, arriving and grinding

After the break, the match's tempo continued to drop. Flick rested De Jong, distributing minutes to a strong Pablo Torre. Barça continued to dominate, but Osasuna dared to emerge a little with the introduction of Budimir, but without truly managing to make a dent. Although the second half was considerably duller, the fans were encouraged to make waves shortly before Lewandowski completed the rout with a header and continued to extend the tally of a great season in which he has now scored 36 goals.