FINAL RESULT: 2:1
Match Report: Sunday 12/03/2006 21:00 (GMT+1): La Liga match day 27

AC Osasuna - FC Barcelona
Reino de Navarra, Pamplona – attendance: 18.530


Referee: Pérez Lasa


1-0 (Valdo'19)

2 - 0 (Puñal'59) penalty
2 - 1 (Larsson '71)




FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés – Belletti (Oleguer '54), Marquez, Puyol, Sylvinho – Motta , Edmilson, Deco (Iniesta '78), - Giuly (Larsson '64), Eto'o, Ronaldinho – Manager: Frank Rijkaard



AC Osasuna(4-4-2). Ricardo - Javier Flaño, Josetxo, Cuéllar, Corrales - David López, Rául Garcia, Puñal, Delporte (Moha '70) - Valdo (Webo '77), Milosevic (Muñoz '86) - Manager: Javier Aguirre


The physical and emotional drain from the Champions League tie against Chelsea took its toll on Barça's march towards defending their Spanish League title as they lost 2-1 away to Osasuna. A mistake from FC Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés and an obvious dive from Savo Milosevic owned Osasuna victory against a tired looking Barca team that finished the game with nine man in Reino De Navarra Stadium.

Despite the loss, Barça's lead over their closest rivals, Valencia and Real Madrid is a hefty 9 points.

FC Barcelona had the chance to increase their lead at the top of the table to 12 points after Valencia and Real Madrid drew (0-0) on Saturday evening, but a personal mistake by Barça goalkeeper Víctor Valdés and bad refereeing let Barca down.


CA Osasuna took the lead after only 19 minutes when Barça goalie Valdés tried to catch a high cross, but the FC Barcelona stopper dropped the ball unchallenged and the former Madrid forward Valdo had no difficulties to tap the ball in an empty goal.

Then, in the moment as it looked as if Barça's superior quality could take over and control the game referee Miguel Ángel Pérez Lasa was conned into giving the home team a non-existent penalty as Milosovic dived on the left side of the penalty area. To make matters worse, the innocent Edmilson was handed a second yellow card and was sent off. After Puñal had duly scored from the 11-meter spot, Barça had 30 minutes with 10-men to pull the game round.
Obviously angry about the referee´s decision the goal sparked 10-man Barça into new life. Ronaldinho had been very closely marked for the first hour but now started to show his class. He lifted the team with some typically magic skills and brilliant passing. Henrik Larsson came on for Ludovic Giuly and soon had his first chance when Ronaldinho´s world class pass put him through on goal on 68 minutes. Bad the swedish Barça goalgetter uncharacteristically missed a huge chance. He made it better three minutes later, when Ronaldinho again set up the Swedish international with a great disguised through ball. This time Larsson made no mistake and hit the target..

Barça were throwing everything forward to score again but with the home side Osasuna now time-wasting for the final 20 minutes, Barça ´s 10 men failed to equalise. Things took a turn for the worse in injury time, when FC Barcelona midfielder Motta was sent off for a foul on Pierre Webó, which means the midfielder, like Edmilson , will definitely miss next weekend's game against Real Sociedad.