Real Madrid win has revitalised Barcelona title bid, feels Luis Enrique

A deep-lying Osasuna gave little away during the opening 10 minutes but, shortly after venturing into the Barca area for the first time, a terrible error saw them go behind on the break.

"Beyond the two goals - the first of which is a very hard finish - Andre has gigantic potential", Luis Enrique, who has defended Gomes several times this year, said in his postgame news conference.

Basement club Osasuna have won only three games all season and will be relegated if they lose to Barca and Leganes beat Las Palmas, although Luis Enrique warned that his side have fared badly against weaker opposition this campaign.

And that's exactly what Barcelona's fans did against Osasuna.

Mascherano gave in to popular demand after Ivan Rakitic decided not to take the spot kick.

Osasuna manager, Petar Vasiljevic, has joked that his team will need handcuffs and a gun, to stop Lionel Messi when they travel to the Camp Nou to play Barcelona on Wednesday.

After Torres curled past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen just after half-time, they were buried by four goals within 20 minutes.

The five-time Ballon d'Or victor then departed to a standing ovation - the pressure well and truly back on a Madrid side who have seen quite enough of him this week.

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Not done there, Barca added another to their tally before the end when Alcacer showed great composure to escape Osasuna's defence and finish past Sirigu one-on-one.

While Lionel Messi helped Barcelona to trounce Osasuna 7-1, Cristiano Ronaldo was rested by title rival Real Madrid in its 6-2 rout of Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish league on Wednesday.

Alcacer became the third player to net a double with four minutes remaining.

- The Argentine has scored 49 goals in 47 competitive games for Barcelona this season.

Messi has scored twice in the last five games in which he has found the net.

Barcelona, which is still without the suspended Neymar, opted for a more unusual lineup than normal, with Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez among those getting a breather after Sunday's match, while Lucas Digne, Arda Turan and Denis Suarez entered the starting XI.

- Paco Alcacer has scored his first brace for Barcelona in all competitions.

The highlight of the night for the supporters was Mascherano's goal, his first since signing for the club in 319 appearances.