Roque fires Barca to narrow win over Osasuna

Barcelona’s Brazilian forward #19 Vitor Roque (R) scores a goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on January 31, 2024. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)

Barcelona ground out a 1-0 win over Osasuna to move third in La Liga on Wednesday as Xavi Hernandez started his long farewell as coach of the champions.

The former Barcelona midfield great said he was stepping down at the end of the season after a heavy defeat last weekend left the Catalans 11 points behind league leaders Girona.

Barcelona cut that down to eight with a largely drab win over their mid-table visitors, earned by young Brazilian striker Vitor Roque’s first goal for the club.

Osasuna had defender Unai Garcia sent off for two yellow cards but Barcelona could not put the game to bed.

The Catalans also trail second-place Real Madrid by seven points despite playing one extra match.

Xavi praised his players for the victory and said they reacted well after their painful 5-3 defeat by Villarreal last weekend.

“The dressing room has soul, we are a family, today we knew that we would react in a very positive way,” said the coach.

Xavi said he was delighted for Roque after he struck his first goal for the club.

“I’m very happy for him, he had chances (in other games) but didn’t take them, today it’s come at last, his goal today is hugely positive,” he added.

After leading Barcelona to La Liga glory last season, Xavi’s team crumbled and in January were thrashed in the Spanish Super Cup final by Real Madrid and knocked out of the Copa del Rey.

Xavi insisted he would fight on to try and win La Liga and the Champions League, hoping his decision would change the team’s dynamic but the first-half