Barcelona 1-0 Osasuna: Roque on target as Los Blaugranas edge past 10-man visitors to move up to third
Barcelona's 18-year-old Brazilian striker Vitor Roque came off the bench and scored a header to secure a 1-0 LaLiga victory over Osasuna on Wednesday.
In their first game since manager Xavi Hernandez announced his departure from the club at the end of the season, Barcelona struggled up front but found the winner in the 63rd minute when Roque scored from a Joao Cancelo cross one minute after coming on.
Barcelona now sit third in the LaLiga standings with 47 points, eight behind leaders Girona and seven behind second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and face Getafe on Thursday.
Osasuna, who finished the game with 10 men after captain Unai Garcia was sent off in the 66th minute, are in 12th place with 26 points.
It was Roque's first goal for the club since arriving from Brazil earlier this month, when he was signed from Athletico Paranaense during the summer transfer window for 61 million euros ($65.8 million), including add-ons.
It helped Barcelona recover from a traumatic evening on Saturday, when Villarreal scored two stoppage-time goals to secure a 5-3 LaLiga victory before Xavi's surprise announcement.
Barcelona dominated possession in the first half of a half-empty Montjuic Olympic Stadium in front of 37,888 fans, their third lowest attendance of the season. However, they only had one shot on goal.
Xavi, who was already missing several starters due to injuries, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Joao Felix, and Alejandro Balde, suffered another setback early against Osasuna when forward Ferran Torres was forced off in tears five minutes into the game with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
He was replaced by 20-year-old Fermin Lopez, who was replaced in the 62nd minute by Roque, who scored the winning goal in his first action on the field.
Garcia was sent off for a second yellow card for holding the Brazilian from behind to prevent a counterattack.
Despite being down a man, Osasuna took control and pressed Barcelona for the rest of the game, with Raul Garcia hitting a post and Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena denying the substitute when his shot appeared to be heading for the top left corner.
"It was a week that was not normal, everything that happened (Xavi's bombshell). It's the coach's decision and we have to give everything for him," Barca's Pedri told DAZN.
"The win tastes very good. It was difficult game because of where we were coming from in a strange week for us."
"These are the last games that we are going to enjoy with him. We want to give him victories".
SportsLigue