Villa had gone 11 games without finding the back of the net for his club, including Wednesday's loss painful Cup rivals Real Madrid, but the international community in Spain was on the mark again today to a very changed Barca prior to the Camp Nou. However, the side of the house, it is difficult to end their lowly opponents and needed a late strike from substitute for Messi in order to guarantee all the loot.
The victory keeps Barcelona eight points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, with only five games left, and go into Wednesday's UEFA Champions League leg of the semifinals against Jose Mourinho's men, with a victory. fight against Osasuna, however, this defeat was their fourth straight game and could be in the relegation zone if results go against the others.
As boss Jose Mourinho is in Madrid against Valencia in the early evening, Guardiola rang the changes after the defeat of his team in overtime in the finals of the cup and the likes of Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Pedro Rodriguez all started on the bench. But while the new look of Madrid clicked from the start on the path to break the third 6-3 at the Mestalla Valencia, Barca are a lot harder to get into their stride.
Lionel Messi scored his 50th goal of the competitive season and David Villa ended his goal drought Barcelona recovered from their defeat Copa del Rey final with a 2-0 victory against Osasuna, which keeps them firmly on course La Liga title.
Sliding Villa ends drought
Despite a slow start, but Guardiola's men managed to make the breakthrough with 24 minutes of play for Villa. Ibrahim Afellay Jeffren fed the ball to the left and the extreme fire young people at a perfect low, sliding Villa gave at the far post.
E 'goal was Villa's 18-championship season and his first boat, after scoring against Real Mallorca in February. The goal was just what I needed to Barcelona, because they thought they were back on track after the defeat to Madrid, but has not proven to be a good night for two times champion, Osasuna and creating three decent chances to compensate just before the break.
The first saw unmarked Krisztian Vadocz header saved by Victor Valdes, who then produced a crucial goal-line block to Damia Abella shot turn against the post shortly afterwards. Vadocz also fired wide of the far post when well placed on the stroke of halftime. Valdes was also called into action early in the second half to keep Alvaro Cejudo a free-kick.
With his side struggling to click, sent Guardiola on Iniesta, Xavi and Messi in the second period, but even with these three field Barça still decent scoring opportunities difficult to find a harder Osasuna.
However, any hopes the visitors may have to cut a late equalizer were dashed when Messi scored his side's second in the 87th minutes. Dani Alves by-ball on the edge of the area were fully weighted for Messi to run and drag a low shot past Ricardo Lopez for his 50 goals for an incredible season and to help Barcelona take a further step towards the title.
