FC Barcelona thrashed Osasuna 4-0 (11th), this Sunday in matchday 28 of the Spanish League, and recovered the third place that it had provisionally lost on Saturday, after the victory of Atletico Madrid, fourth again, over Cádiz (18th), 2-1.
The Catalan team, tied on points with Atlético, is twelve behind the leader Real Madrid, and five behind Sevilla, second, who tied this Sunday (1-1) at Rayo Vallecano (13th).
Barça rediscovered the course. Ferran Torres, who achieved a brace, scored first from a penalty, after a play by Gavi (14), and extended his personal account with the second after a pass from Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé (21).
Dembelé would offer a second assist to Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (27), before Riqui Puig closed the account (76) for Barcelona.
A victory sealed in half an hour and a result that gives confidence, four days before the decisive second leg of the Europa League round of 16 against Galatasaray, on Thursday in Istanbul, and a week before the Clásico on March 20 in Santiago Bernabeu.
This easy victory extends a nice series for the Catalans, undefeated since January 20, and who have won six of their last seven league games.
For their part, Sevilla took a step back in their aspirations to win the title after their draw (1-1) at Rayo Vallecano.
For Julen Lopetegui’s men, it was their sixth draw in their last eight matches in the regular tournament, and they are beginning to see their second place threatened by Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid.
Real Madrid can slip further into the lead if it beats Mallorca on Monday (16th). The Whites lead with 63 points.
In the race for European competitions, Real Sociedad won the Basque derby against Alavés (19th) 1-0, to move up to sixth place, four points behind the Champions League qualifying places.
Betis (5th) beat Athletic Bilbao (8th) 1-0, thanks to a goal from Borja Iglesias.
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