Barcelona raise the stakes found in Madrid derby after Osasuna win
Barcelona cranked up the pressure on Sunday's Madrid derby by beating Osasuna 2-0 on Saturday night to advantage two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid found in La Liga.
Lionel Messi setup both goals found in Pamplona seeing as Jordi Alba hammered residence in the first half before the 18-year-out of date Ilaix Moriba came off the bench to curl within an impressive shot later in the second.
"Thankfully Leo provided me the move and I have no idea how I cut found in and shot with my kept foot, I'm only glad it went found in," Ilaix said. "I will remember it, I will take that target to my grave."
Ilaix's hit was his first objective found in La Liga and another breakthrough point in time for a Barca youngster, 24 hours before the club hopes a brighter future can start under a fresh president.
Before the winner of the elections -- contested by Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa -- is confirmed on Sunday night, Atletico will face Real Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano, where Barcelona will surely be longing for anything other than a home win.
A few weeks back, Ronald Koeman's side looked too much adrift in the title race but 10 victories out of 11 have shot them back into contention, whether or not Atletico stay in the generating seat with two game titles in hand.
"Any result is wonderful for us," said Koeman.
After coming from two goals down to beat Sevilla after extra-time in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, Barcelona will have one trophy, as well as perhaps a good domestic double, within their sights.
Their success in recent months has owed very much to a skilled crop of youngsters, with Ilaix -- a dynamic but technically gifted midfielder -- the latest to emerge.
"Every time he makes the team he provides workforce something extra," explained Koeman. "Due to his personality, his strength, almost all of all he's very good with the ball, and physically he's a solid boy. He's gaining ground and showing he could be more with the primary team."
Barca faced some nervy moments early on as Jonathan Calleri tried an ambitious lob from length before Ruben Garcia's curler from the edge of the region required an athletic save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Messi shot huge and then setup the opener, drifting in from the proper and spotting the scuttling Alba racing in behind on the opposite area. Messi clipped a go through three Osasuna defenders for Alba to gather and he lashed it substantial and in from the angle.
Garcia deserved an equaliser soon after for his primary touch alone, a good sumptuous cushioning of an extended ball forward, but Ter Stegen was once again there to deny the finish.
There is more control about the next half but Barcelona needed another to create it comfortable and substitute Ilaix seized his moment, shaping to shoot along with his right before coolly rolling onto his left and whipping his shot in to the corner.
While Barcelona sustained momentum from their midweek victory in the cup, Sevilla didn't bounce back, rather sinking to some other loss away at Elche previously Saturday.
Raul Guti and Guido Carrillo sealed an essential 2-1 win for Elche, with Luuk de Jong adding a good late consolation for Sevilla, who've now lost 3 consecutive matches found in eight days.
They sit six points ahead of Real Sociedad in fifth. Elche climb to 17th, two points above underneath three.
