Ferran Torres scored a brace as Barcelona breezed past Osasuna on Sunday night. Meanwhile, in Italy, Alexis Sanchez’s 93rd-minute goal kept Inter Milan in the hunt for the Serie A title.
The spirits in and around Camp Nou are high at the moment. Since Xavi Hernandez’s arrival, Barcelona have turned from mid-table mediocrity to challengers for the top-four spots, which might still feel underwhelming given the recent history of the club but is, nonetheless, a marked improvement on the position they found themselves in just a couple of months ago.
New signings have helped, too, and it was one of the winter arrivals who put Barcelona 2-0 up with just 21 minutes played. Ferran Torres scored first from the penalty spot in the 14th minute, before doubling his and his team’s tally just seven minutes later – a sliding pass through the Osasuna defense from Ousmane Dembele opening the door for the youngster to finish.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned in Dembele’s cross for Barcelona’s third in the 27th minute, but it wasn’t until late that they found a fourth. Riqui Puig added gloss to the scoreline, thanks to his persistence; the youngster reacted first to Sergio Herrera saving his long-distance shot, kept his composure to round the goalkeeper, and scored in an empty net. Four wins on the bounce for the Blaugrana, now, and they find themselves five points behind Sevilla with a game in hand.
In Italy, Serie A champions Inter Milan took on Torino, hoping to keep up with league leaders – and rivals – AC Milan. But the Nerazzurri conceded first, in the 12th minute, when key transfer target Gleison Bremer poked the ball into the net from close range after they had failed to deal with the danger.
Torino had chances to double their lead, but it was Inter who scored next – barely within the time limit. Alexis Sanchez popped up in the opposition box in the 93rd minute and his strike, although palmed by Etrit Berisha, nestled into the corner of the net. Nevertheless, Inter dropped key points, meaning they will find themselves a point behind AC Milan even if they win their game in hand.
