Osasuna midfielder acknowledges Barcelona’s brilliance in crushing defeat – ‘They overwhelmed us’ | OneFootball

Barcelona’s 3-0 thrashing of Osasuna in a postponed La Liga fixture highlighted the vast gulf in quality between the two sides.

While the Catalan giants were dealing with the challenges of reintegrating players returning from international duty, they still managed to completely outclass Osasuna, leaving their opponents visibly frustrated.

Osasuna midfielder Ruben Garcia was candid in his post-match interview, admitting that his team has been “struggling” for quite some time, particularly on a mental level.

His words were a stark admission of Osasuna’s ongoing difficulties, especially when coming up against a Barcelona side that “overwhelmed us in every aspect.”

“We knew it was going to be difficult, but the truth is that it’s been a real struggle,” said Garcia as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Barcelona had problems of their own

Despite their impressive performance, Barcelona entered the contest with several disadvantages.

Barcelona secured a 3-0 win over Osasuna. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Many of their key players had just returned from international duties, a fact that could have easily disrupted their rhythm and focus.

Raphinha was left out of the squad entirely, while Ronald Araujo, despite being named in the squad, did not feature for even a single minute.

Yet, Hansi Flick’s men looked anything but disjointed. From the outset, Barcelona dictated the tempo, pressing high and displaying sharpness in their passing that left Osasuna chasing shadows.

Osasuna, on the other hand, appeared lethargic and mentally drained. García’s remarks about their struggles were evident on the pitch, as Barcelona’s dominance went unchallenged for large portions of the game.

Osasuna’s players seemed unable to match the intensity or creativity of their opponents, with Barcelona’s intricate play leaving them stretched and disorganised.

The Catalans took full advantage as their clinical finishing and relentless pressure only deepened Osasuna’s woes, exposing the mental and tactical limitations Garcia alluded to.