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Pamplona (Spain) (AFP) – Ansu Fati grew to become the third youngest participant to attain in La Liga on Saturday however the 16-year-old couldn’t rescue Barcelona from being held to a 2-2 draw away at newly-promoted Osasuna.
Fati equalised 5 minutes after approaching at half-time and Barca appeared prone to full the comeback when Arthur Melo, additionally on a substitute, made it two 13 minutes later at El Sadar Stadium.
But Roberto Torres, who had given Osasuna an early lead, delivered a twist by scoring a late second from the penalty spot after Gerard Pique handballed.
As Barcelona refuse to surrender on their pursuit of Neymar earlier than the switch window closes on Monday, this was one other reminder of the expertise that already exists of their ranks.
Coach Ernesto Valverde seems able to look to the longer term moderately than the previous, with Carles Perez, a 21-year-old product of La Masia, additionally offering two assists on his second consecutive begin.
He ought to even have scored the winner however the concern might be that Barca wanted Fati and Perez in any respect, even considering the accidents to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele.
Antoine Griezmann placed on a press release show within the win over Actual Betis final weekend however he was quiet once more right here and it stays to be seen whether or not the membership’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu feels negotiations for Neymar ought to now be pushed over the road.
Guillermo Amor, Barcelona’s director of institutional relations, instructed Movistar on Saturday the deal will not be useless.
“The market closes quickly however we nonetheless have a couple of days,” stated Amor. “Nothing is finished and we’re ready to see what can occur. After all, one thing can occur on the final minute. We’re calm.”
– Dangerous Barca –
Roberto Torres additionally got here by the ranks at Osasuna and has greater than 200 appearances for the membership. His double means they’re unbeaten from their first three video games, having returned to the highest flight for the primary time since 2017.
Each groups stood for a minute’s silence earlier than kick-off in a present of assist for Luis Enrique, Barcelona’s former coach and participant, whose daughter Xana died aged 9 final week. Barca’s followers then chanted his title when the silence ended.
Barcelona began badly and bought worse within the second half, the opening 45 minutes strewn with misplaced passes and missing a single likelihood for the guests.
Osasuna additionally pressured the problem, urgent laborious and displaying extra chunk than Barca, with Brandon and Roberto Torres inflicting a raft of issues for the Barca again line.
Their purpose got here from Brandon, who twisted and turned down the suitable to go away Clement Lenglet on the ground. He despatched a cross to the again publish the place Nelson Semedo bought caught and Roberto Torres smashed residence.
Barcelona by no means discovered their rhythm and it may need been Sergi Roberto placing a easy move out of play that persuaded Valverde to make a half-time change.
Fati got here on for Semedo, with Sergi dropping into proper again. The purpose got here from that facet too as Perez crossed and Fati rose excessive, hung within the air and powered a header contained in the publish.
Remodeled, Arthur got here on for Rafinha two minutes later and inside a minute, Barca scored once more. Perez offered the help, releasing Arthur who used Jordi Alba’s overlapping run to chop inside and curl into the far nook.
The laborious work appeared executed however Osasuna rallied. Juan Villar examined Marc-Andre ter Stegen and with 9 minutes left, Pique handballed, permitting Roberto Torres to slip within the penalty for his second of the sport.
Perez may need gained it for Barcelona within the 88th minute. He had solely Osasuna’s Ruben to beat however was caught in two minds and the prospect was gone.
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