Three talking points ahead of Osasuna vs Barcelona | La Liga GW8

Exactly 72 hours after Barcelona’s last game against Getafe kicked off, the Catalans must prepare for their next battle amid the hectic schedule.

Hansi Flick’s men will take on Vincente Moreno’s Osasuna at El Sadar on Saturday night in what promises to be a great matchup.

The hosts are currently seated seventh in La Liga with eleven points after seven games. Notably, however, they are the only team in the top ten of La Liga to have conceded more goals than they have scored.

Heading into the game, the Catalans are on a run of six straight wins over Osasuna and are unbeaten in their past nine meetings.

The hosts, meanwhile, have not maintained a clean sheet against the Blaugrana in 14 appearances with the last one dating back to 2013.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Osasuna vs Barcelona.

Fortress to conquer

Osasuna’s season so far has been quite bipolar, to say the least. The Pamplona-based side have looked completely different versions at home and away from home, seemingly unconquerable in the former but lacklustre in the latter.

Of their seven games so far this season, Vincente Moreno’s men have played four at home and three on the road. Of the three games away from home, they have lost two and drawn one.

The story at El Sadar, however, is completely different as they have won three games and drawn just once. Their only draw at the venue came against Leganes on matchday 1 and they have looked a different side at home ever since.

If Barcelona are to take all three points tomorrow, they must thus put an end to Osasuna’s unbeaten run at home and it will not be easy by any means considering that they have conceded just four goals in as many games at the venue.

Hansi Flick and Co. must be vary of some of the opposition’s players in particular as the likes of Ruben Garcia in midfield and Abel Bretones in defence have been on song.

Further, the goalkeeper Sergio Herrera and striker Ante Budimir are capable of deciding games on their own as they have done so many times in the past.

Rest for Lamine Yamal?

At just 17 years of age, Lamine Yamal is already being regarded as the best winger in world football with some pundit going as far as to call him the best player in the world.

Having achieved such stature and amidst the hype, it is almost impossible to see the youngster rested as he has firmly established himself as an undisputed starter under Hansi Flick.

The teenage sensation has started all of Barcelona’s seven La Liga games so far and averages a staggering 89 minutes per game. Having virtually played every minute for the team so far, serious questions have to be raised over his fitness.

Hansi Flick is indeed well-versed in managing players’ fitness and even confirmed before the clash against Getafe that Yamal did not yet require rest.

The 17-year-old, however, appeared slightly tired and was not as bubbly as his usual self against Jose Bordalas’ men and even left the field slightly limping at full-time.

At this critical juncture, Flick must thus take a decision over whether Yamal starts for Barcelona against Osasuna or takes a deserved break on the night. There are indeed better opportunities to rest him next week, but a stitch in time often saves nine.

A historic record

Seven wins in seven games is not a start many managers manage to pull off after being newly appointed at any European powerhouse, let alone Barcelona.

For Hansi Flick to come in and turn a dysfunctional team’s situation around was not something many expected would happen in the short term.

Yet, he is gunning for a remarkable achievement just over a month into the season that would engrave his name in the history books.

The team’s win over Getafe midweek took them to seven straight wins in La Liga and helped Flick enter an elite group of managers who have managed a magical start at the club.

He equalled Ernesto Valverde’s record against Bordalas’ men and is now just one win away from equalling the best start to a league season in history – eight wins in eight games under Tata Martino in 2013-14.

Back then, the team’s magical run came to an end against Osasuna at El Sadar and it is only poetic that Flick can equal the record tomorrow with a win in the same clash.