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Match Preview for Barcelona v Osasuna
Barcelona face an anxious wait to discover if key duo Raphinha and Ronald Araujo will be available to face Osasuna in Thursday’s controversially rearranged La Liga clash.
The match had to be rescheduled after the original fixture on March 8 was postponed 20 minutes before kick off when it was announced Barca’s first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia had died.
Minarro Garcia, 53, passed away at the team hotel in the lead up to the match. He had been working at the club since 2017.
The Spanish Football Federation ruled the game should be played on Thursday despite both clubs appealing the ruling due to its proximity to international fixtures.
Raphinha will appear for Brazil against Argentina tonight – and will be assured of a hostile reception following his pre-match comments – while Araujo will be a part of the Uruguay squad that faces Bolivia at altitude in La Paz.
Osasuna’s Enzo Boyomo is also facing a swift dash back to Spain as he is with Cameroon for their clash with Libya today.
The good news for Barca boss Hansi Flick is the fact several of his homegrown stars are back in camp with the second leg of Spain’s Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands taking place on Sunday.
That means Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Pedri are all available, as is Dutchman Frenkie de Jong.
But it remains to be seen if Raphinha and Araujo will make it.
The plan is for them to fly back to Spain in a private jet along with the South American-based players that star for Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
They will land in Madrid on Wednesday afternoon and then jet straight off to Barcelona.
It is a hectic schedule and it is inconceivable either player will start on Thursday night, although they could be named on the bench.
Barcelona go into the game top of La Liga with a game in hand and they will move three points clear of Real Madrid and seven ahead of Atleti with a victory against an Osasuna side who are 14th and on a run of six games without a win in all competitions.
First training session of the week ✔️🔋 pic.twitter.com/YrsWJv3dxS
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 25, 2025
Team News for Barcelona v Osasuna
Araujo’s absence from the starting XI is compounded by the injury suffered by Pau Cubarsi against the Netherlands last week.
Cubarsi is doubtful which could hand a chance to young defender Alexis Olmedo.
Olmedo, 18, plays for Barca Atletic but could be drafted into the first-team squad after taking part in training over the past two days.
Eric Garcia is the other option at centre-half.
Ferran Torres is the likely replacement for Raphinha.
Unai Garcia missed training for Osasuna yesterday while Bryan Zaragoza is injured. Lucas Torro is suspended.
Predicted line-ups for Barcelona v Osasuna
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Martinez, Garcia, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Torres, Lewandowski
Osasuna: Herrera; Areso, Boyomo, Catena, Cruz; Moncayola, Ibanez, Oroz; Ruben Garcia, Budimir, Raul Garcia
🔒 Locked in… #BarçaOsasuna#LetsGoRojillos pic.twitter.com/X8Ix20btsf
— C. A. OSASUNA (@osasuna_en) March 24, 2025
How to watch Barcelona v Osasuna: TV and streaming options
Barcelona v Osasaun can be watched on Premier Sports 1 and La Liga TV in the UK. The match kicks off at 8pm UK time.
It can also be streamed on the Premier Sports app and the bet365 app.
Stats for Barcelona v Osasuna
- Barcelona have won 3 of their last 4 matches in La Liga when scoring more than 1.5 goals
- Osasuna have not won away from home in La Liga since October
- Osasuna have not won at Barcelona since 2020
- Barca won the corresponding fixture 7-1 in 2017 and 7-0 in 2014
Prediction for Barcelona v Osasuna
Barca have such strength in depth that while the absences of Raphinha, who has been outstanding this season, and Araujo is a blow they should be able to cope.
Osasuna are in wretched form and it is hard to imagine a scenario where they come away with anything other than a convincing defeat.
Prediction: Barcelona 3-0 Osasuna
