30 September,2024 07:01 AM IST | Pamplona (Spain) | AFP
Barcelona players wear a dejected look against Osasuna. Pic/AFP
Osasuna shattered La Liga leaders Barcelona's perfect start to the season with an emphatic 4-2 victory on Saturday.
The Catalans won all seven of their opening fixtures, but Hansi Flick's rotated side came badly undone here as Ante Budimir scored a brace either side of Bryan Zaragoza's strike.
Pau Victor had given Barca a lifeline to pull them back into the game before Budimir bagged his second from the penalty spot. Abel Bretones added a sensational fourth from the edge of the box, before Lamine Yamal pulled one back with a fine effort of his own. Victory would have matched Barcelona's best-ever start to a league campaign with eight consecutive wins, but they were not able to build on their four-point lead on second-place Real Madrid.
"It's normal there are rotations, there are a lot of games, it's not an excuse. In the second half we deserved a bit more, but we let in goals when we were at our best," Barcelona midfielder Pedri told Movistar. Ahead of a Champions League match against Young Boys on Tuesday, Flick shuffled his pack. The coach handed starts to defenders Gerard Martin and Sergi Dominguez as well as Pablo Torre in midfield and Victor in attack. He rested Spain Euro 2024 starlet Yamal and Brazilian winger Raphinha among others.
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