BARCELONA: Barcelona swept to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Osasuna to move three points clear at the top of La Liga despite their discontent at having to play their match on Thursday.
The Catalans’ appeal against the rescheduling of this game was rejected but Hansi Flick’s side, unbeaten in 19 matches across all competitions, still made light work of Osasuna, 14th.
Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo netted in the first half with Robert Lewandowski on target after the break.
Barca were without key winger Raphinha as he played for Brazil on Wednesday in South America in World Cup qualifying but cruised at the Olympic stadium regardless.
Flick was happy with the victory but said an injury to Olmo meant it came at a cost.
“We have three points more but we paid a really high price with the injury of Dani,” Flick told reporters.
“We don’t know how long he will be out but if it’s two weeks, he’ll miss a lot of games and if it’s three weeks even more.”
The match was originally due to be played on March 8 but was postponed after a Barcelona club doctor died.
Some players, including France’s Jules Kounde, played 120 minutes on Sunday for their countries before returning for the game.
“It’s a lack of respect to the club to select this date,” Kounde told DAZN.
“We’re not machines and to play our game and give the fans what we want, we need rest.”
Flick put veteran striker Lewandowski on the bench, deploying Torres in his place to excellent effect.
“Every game is a final, so today’s was a final, it was important for us,” Torres told DAZN.
Barcelona controlled the game from the start, taking the lead through Torres after 11 minutes.
Frenkie de Jong led the way as Barcelona moved the ball around smartly, with Alejandro Balde receiving it on the left.
The full-back, in fine form, sent a dangerous low ball into the six-yard box where Torres darted in to stab home.
The Spaniard should have added a second when teenage star Lamine Yamal clipped a fine ball over the top for him but Sergio Herrera saved well.
The goalkeeper brought down Dani Olmo to concede a penalty for Barcelona’s second midway through the first half.
Herrera saved Olmo’s spot kick, low to his right, but a re-take was ordered after an Osasuna player encroached, and this time the playmaker made no mistake.
Olmo was taken off hurt a few minutes later, with Flick angry on the sidelines at the situation, as Barca face an intense run of nine games in 28 days across all competitions, starting with this victory.
Torres whipped a free-kick against the crossbar with Barcelona remaining dominant, as midfield maestro Pedri Gonzalez controlled the game.
The second half was a low key affair as Barcelona were content with their lead, until Lewandowski came on for Torres, hungry to get in on the action.
The veteran Polish striker nodded home from Fermin Lopez’s cross at the end of a quick break to extend Barca’s lead and his own at the top of Spain’s scoring charts with 23 league goals.
Barcelona’s win helped them put daylight between themselves and champions Real Madrid, while Atletico, third, are seven points behind.
Barca host Girona on Sunday in a Catalan derby, while Atletico visit Espanyol and Real Madrid welcome Leganes on Saturday.
Vicente Moreno’s Osasuna are without a win in their last seven games across all competitions.
“We’re not doing well, for a long time we’ve been down in the dumps,” said Osasuna’s Ruben Garcia.
“We faced a team that rolled over the top of us, we have to recognize that and try to do better.”
Barca bolster Liga title bid by winning match they didn’t want to play
https://arab.news/4gkh9
Barca bolster Liga title bid by winning match they didn’t want to play
Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri re-sign for Crushers GC ahead of new LIV Golf season
- Crushers to maintain same roster for a record fifth consecutive season under captain Bryson DeChambeau
- Team returns in 2026 Season as most successful team in LIV Golf history, with eight regular-season team titles and one team championship
NEW YORK: Crushers GC of the LIV Golf League has solidified its roster for the 2026 season with the confirmed return of team veterans Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri, who once again will team up with captain Bryson DeChambeau and Charles Howell III following an accomplished 2025 showing that included three consecutive team victories in 2025 at LIV Golf Korea, Virginia, and Dallas.
“Keeping this core together for 2026 positions us to build on the momentum we carried out of 2025,” DeChambeau said. “This group knows what it takes to win; we lifted the trophy in 2023 and finished second last season, and that experience fuels our drive to compete at the top week in and week out. We’re a team of competitors, creators, and leaders who take pride in pushing the game forward, and having this group return gives us continuity, confidence, and a clear direction as we raise our standards heading into next season.”
Crushers GC enters the 2026 season with a clear identity rooted in inspiration, energy, and creativity, built to push boundaries and expand its global footprint. Led by DeChambeau, the Crushers combine elite competition with a creator-first mindset, using connection, innovation, and global reach to ignite fandom. The team prides itself on making golf more accessible, entertaining, and engaging, blending high-performance play with education, mentorship, and social-first storytelling that resonates with modern fans.
DeChambeau returns as one of the sport’s most exciting and influential figures. His power game has remained elite; he impacted both individual and team performance in 2025, winning the individual title at LIV Golf Korea and finishing third in the season-long individual Championship race. He also led Crushers GC to three consecutive victories in 2025 in Korea, Virginia and Dallas.
Paul Casey returns as a steadying force within the Crushers lineup, and as one of the most consistent players on the LIV Golf circuit. A proven winner with more than two decades at the highest level of professional golf, Casey has won 21 times in 13 different countries on his way to becoming one of the sport’s most popular players. His precision, consistency, and competitive intelligence remain central to the team’s pursuit of excellence. Casey recorded four top-10 finishes in 2025, and finished runner-up at LIV Golf Dallas in a four-man play-off.
Two-time Olympian Lahiri begins his fourth full season with Crushers GC after providing a reliable and consistent presence, anchoring the back of the lineup to keep things steady. A trailblazer whose career spans victories and contention across multiple tours, Lahiri is one of the most decorated Indian professional golfers, having earned 18 professional wins worldwide.
Howell continued to be a steady backbone for Crushers GC throughout the 2025 season, underscoring his value as one of the league’s most consistent and dependable competitors. The veteran posted six top-24 points finishes, including two top-five results in Crushers GC’s three team wins, proving he delivers when it matters most in big moments. Howell is the only other Crusher besides DeChambeau to win a LIV Golf individual title, having done so in Mayakoba in 2023. Whether anchoring the team’s deep lineup or contributing key points in high-pressure situations, Howell’s blend of consistency, experience, and measured excellence helped fuel Crushers’ run in 2025 and sets a tone for his role heading into 2026.
With their full 2025 roster returning, Crushers GC enters the 2026 season tied as most successful team in LIV Golf history, with eight regular-season team titles and one team championship.
