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Barcelona celebrated their 121st anniversary in brilliant fashion with a comfortable 4-0 win over Osasuna in a 2020-21 La Liga game at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann turned in stellar performances as the Blaugrana climbed to seventh in the league table while Osasuna remain in 15th.
After a sombre and respectful tribute to Diego Armando Maradona before kick-off, Barcelona started with the intensity required of the occasion, with Martin Brathwaite bundling in the opener at the half-hour mark.
Antoine Griezmann volleyed in a thunderbolt from the edge of the box in the 42nd minute and then turned provider in the 57th when he teed up Philippe Coutinho for a tap-in.
Lionel Messi added the icing on the cake with a fine solo strike in the 73rd minute, to cap off an emotional evening for the club.
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On that note, here are the five major talking points from the game:
#5 Barcelona captain Lionel Messi pays a wonderful tribute to Diego Maradona
The tears were genuine, the memories ever so real. Lionel Messi's emotions were there for all to see as Barcelona paid tribute to Diego Maradona before the game, and the Argentine wizard produced a performance that had all the hallmarks of his fellow #10.
Despite Osasuna packing their defence in their first half, Messi remained undaunted, dribbling away from the kicks of his markers and dictating play with some terrific passes to Antoine Griezmann and Jordi Alba. He was at the heart of all four Barcelona goals, but a strike from his own foot made the occasion all the more sweeter.
And what a goal it was: Messi skipped away from multiple challenges at the edge of the Osasuna box before rifling a hammer of a shot into the top corner. The Barcelona captain had a befitting celebration too.
The Barcelona shirt came off, and a Newell's Old Boys one appeared - the same one Diego Armando Maradona wore on his debut for the club in October 1993 when a 6-year-old Messi was brought on at half-time to entertain the crowd, or so the story goes.
27 years later, Messi produced the perfect tribute to his late compatriot.
#4 Osasuna can take a few positives despite the defeat
Osasuna earned four points from their two games against Barcelona last season. Although Jagoba Arrasate employed similar tactics, the Blaugrana were simply a class apart on the day. Even when Osasuna employed a 5-man backline, Barcelona's interplay was so great that the visitors could not have possibly stopped it.
Going forward, Osasuna caused Barcelona plenty of problems, with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen called into action multiple times to make some incredible saves.
The scoreline may be a bit harsh on the visitors, as they can surely expect to have a great chance of moving up the table against less-vaunted opposition.
#3 Barcelona's defence has a lucky reprieve against Osasuna
With Samuel Umtiti, Ronald Araujo and Gerard Pique being big absentees, the grimace on Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman's face was telling when he saw Clement Lenglet crumple to the turf.
The Frenchman is looking at a concerted spell on the sidelines, and with Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets likely to deputise in Lenglet's absence, Koeman certainly has his work cut out.
Oscar Mingueza, in only his second La Liga game, turned in an assured performance at the back, which ought to calm some frayed Blaugrana nerves. However, Barcelona beleaguered defence is a big worry for the manager despite managing a clean sheet against Osasuna.
#2 Antoine Griezmann puts in one of his best performances in a Barcelona shirt
Even before Antoine Griezmann's volley whistled past a stunned Sergio Herrera in the Osasuna goal, the Frenchman looked much like the player Barcelona paid an arm and a leg for last summer. With Martin Brathwaite serving as the focal point, Griezmann flourished in his favoured role.
The Frenchman linked up beautifully with Messi and made some brilliantly disguised runs that Osasuna were simply unable to deal with. His interplay was also a sight to behold, bringing back memories of his best performances for Atletico Madrid and France.
With a future that may be Messi-less, perhaps it's time for Barcelona fans to back their next best option, as Griezmann reminded everyone of the quality that he brings to the table, no less his manager, Koeman.
#1 Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has the perfect week
There were plenty of raised eyebrows as Ronald Koeman named a second-string lineup in the midweek UEFA Champions League fixture, but the move paid off. Barcelona won their game against Dynamo Kyiv with ease, and their stars were fresh to resume their assault on La Liga.
Against Osasuna, Barcelona had a lineup that looked more totaalvoetbal than regular football, which surprised many. Koeman played an incredibly attacking XI despite having a rejigged backline that one would've thought needed protection.
However, the gamble paid off, as Barcelona's attacking impetus was such that their defence was only rarely called into action.
There's a blueprint for the way Koeman would like his Barcelona side to play. If he can marry all of Barcelona's attacking wealth into a beautiful symphony that was against Osasuna, there's potential for silverware.
