Barcelona is on the verge of clinching the La Liga title after a dramatic late comeback against Osasuna on Saturday. Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres scored in the final 10 minutes to secure a 2-1 victory, putting the Catalan giants 14 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid. If Madrid fails to beat Espanyol on Sunday, Barcelona will be crowned champions for the second consecutive season and the 29th time in club history.
The match at El Sadar Stadium was a tense affair, with Barcelona struggling to break down a resilient Osasuna defense in the first half. Without the injured Lamine Yamal, the Blaugrana lacked their usual dynamism and creativity. Osasuna had the best chance of the opening period when striker Ante Budimir powered past two defenders and struck the post. Barcelona raised their tempo after the break, and Lewandowski finally broke the deadlock in the 81st minute with a powerful header. Torres then sealed the win four minutes later, sliding home from close range. Osasuna pulled one back through Raul Garcia in stoppage time, but Barcelona held on for three crucial points.
If Real Madrid does win on Sunday, Barcelona's next opportunity to secure the title will come in the El Clasico on May 10—a fitting stage for such a momentous occasion. "For me, the important thing was that today we did our job," said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick. "It's not in our hands what happens tomorrow. We have to wait—this is a good situation. If we win the title by Madrid slipping up, we will also celebrate. I think it doesn't matter how." Striker Ferran Torres echoed that sentiment, telling DAZN: "We've put the pressure on Madrid. Tomorrow, if they don't win, then we really will be champions."
Elsewhere in La Liga, Villarreal secured their place in next season's Champions League with a dominant 5-1 victory over Levante. The Yellow Submarine's emphatic win guarantees them a top-four finish, capping off a remarkable campaign. Meanwhile, Diego Simeone rotated his entire starting lineup with an eye on European competition as Atletico Madrid cruised to a 2-0 win over Valencia at Mestalla.