Osasuna end Barcelona's best La Liga run for a second time

El Sadar has become a bogey ground for Barcelona. Not because of the overall results, where the ‘Cules’ dominate historically, but because two of the Catalan side's best runs have been broken there.

Saturday's defeat highlighted the lack of depth in the squad. Between financial problems and injuries, Flick has had to overuse his main players at the start of the season. Against Osasuna, he made some changes, something that didn't work out well in the short term but may well work in the long term.

Flick's team had a challenge at El Sadar. A win against Osasuna would equal the club's best ever start to a season in La Liga, with 8 wins in 8 games. However, it all came crashing down like a house of cards.

El Sadar has already witnessed the break of two great streaks in the history of the 'Cules'. That 8 out of 8 to which Flick aspired was achieved a decade ago by Tata Martino, in what is the best start to a season that did not end with a title.

Precisely, Tata's streak was broken at El Sadar. In the ninth match of the 2013-14 season, on 19th October 2013, Osasuna were able to beat Martino's Barcelona.

That was the end of the winning streak. Just like on is Saturday, when Hansi Flick's Barcelona lost 4-2 to Osasuna, the team that has taken the most points at home at the start of the season.

 

September 28, 2024