PAMPLONA: Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres took Barcelona to the brink of the La Liga title with late goals to earn them a 2-1 win at Osasuna on Saturday.&nbsp;The Catalan giants moved 14 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid and will be crowned champions if their rivals drop points at Espanyol on Sunday.&nbsp;Lewandowski headed home after 81 minutes to break the deadlock, with Torres slotting in a second with four minutes to go.&nbsp;Osasuna pulled one back through Raul Garcia late on, but Barca secured the three points to close in on a second consecutive league title and a 29th in the club&#39;s history.&nbsp;If Real Madrid defeats Espanyol, then Barcelona&#39;s next opportunity to clinch the title will be in the Clasico against their arch-rivals on May 10.&nbsp;Flick said he would try and get his team to focus on this game, rather than the Clasico next weekend, but Barca&#39;s first half was that of a team perched on a comfortable cushion and the feeling of having little at stake.&nbsp;Without the injured Lamine Yamal, Barca lose a lot of their dynamism, and although they had a lot of the ball in the first half, they found it hard to break down Osasuna to create clear chances.&nbsp;Roony Bardghji, on the right in place of the Spain international, drew a simple save from Osasuna stopper Sergio Herrera with a long-range effort.&nbsp;Osasuna had the best opening in the first half, forged by Croatian striker Ante Budimir all on his own, showing strength to hold off two defenders before prodding against the post.&nbsp;Barcelona had a slightly higher tempo in the second half and Dani Olmo might have sent them ahead, but he bundled over from close range.&nbsp;Flick turned to his bench, making a triple change, including sending on winger Marcus Rashford to play on the right flank.&nbsp;The Manchester United forward, on loan at Barca, curled narrowly over and offered a welcome injection of speed.&nbsp;Rashford created the opener with a perfect cross for Lewandowski, who took advantage of slack marking to find space and power a header home.&nbsp;Torres, another substitute, produced a clinical finish to double Barca&#39;s lead, but they were made to sweat through eight minutes of stoppage time after Garcia headed home for the hosts when left free in the box.&nbsp;The Catalans battled hard, thumping balls to safety as Osasuna turned the screw, but were eventually able to celebrate a 10th consecutive league win -- and now they wait.

Football

Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-1 with late goals from Lewandowski and Torres, moving 14 points clear. They can clinch the La Liga title if Real Madrid drops points, marking a 10th straight league win.

Barcelona on verge of La Liga title defense with win at Osasuna

ELCHE: Barcelona eased to a 3-1 win at Elche to move four points clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday, with goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford.&nbsp;Hansi Flick&#39;s side created several more clear chances in an entertaining clash but the woodwork and some profligate finishing stopped them from securing a far bigger victory.&nbsp;Alvaro Arbeloa&#39;s Real Madrid, second, host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday aiming to restore the gap back to one point.&nbsp;Elche, 12th, have impressed this season and created good chances of their own at the Martinez Valero stadium, but Barca were too strong for them, even though they did not take all their chances.&nbsp;&quot;We got three more points and we&#39;re still growing as a team, which is very important because we still have not reached our top level I think,&quot; Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong told Movistar.&nbsp;&quot;Normally we have players who finish very well, maybe in a game you miss your chances, but the important thing is that we&#39;re generating them.&quot;&nbsp;Teenage star Yamal opened the scoring after six minutes after Dani Olmo sent him through on goal.&nbsp;The 18-year-old coolly rounded goalkeeper Inaki Pena, a former Barca player, and slotted home. Olmo came close to doubling Barca&#39;s lead but clipped the top of the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box.&nbsp;After a groin issue troubled Yamal during the first half of the campaign, in recent weeks he has returned to his top level.&nbsp;Elche equalized with a well-worked move to get Alvaro Rodriguez in behind Barca&#39;s high line and he fired past Joan Garcia.

Barcelona beat Elche 3-1 with goals from Yamal, Torres, and Rashford, extending their La Liga lead to four points. Despite missed chances and hitting the woodwork, Barca dominated, while Elche impressed with their attacking play.

Articles tagged with "ferran torres"

Barcelona on verge of La Liga title defense with win at Osasuna

Barca triumph at Elche to extend Liga lead