Osasuna vs. Barcelona: Score and Reaction from 2016 La Liga Match

Barcelona beat Osasuna 3-0 at the El Sadar Stadium on Saturday after Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi each found the net in Pamplona to apply pressure on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Messi bagged a brace to put Barca just three points behind bitter rivals Real, who host Deportivo La Coruna at the Santiago Bernabeu later in the day.

Suarez and Messi had been blanked during the first half after wasting several excellent chances. Bottom side Osasuna nearly made them pay but couldn't make the most of two superb openings either side of the break, before Messi and Suarez eventually got their act together.

Kieran Canning of Agence France-Presse summed up the changes Barca manager Luis Enrique had made to his starting XI:

Not surprisingly, it was Messi who looked the most likely to open up the hosts' tight defensive structures early on, even with the changes. The Argentinian nearly created a goal inside the first eight minutes when his exquisite pass off the outside of his left foot flashed narrowly across goal and just out of the reach of Suarez.

Misfortune continued for Suarez when the Uruguayan deftly controlled a whipped cross from left-back Jordi Alba before shooting powerfully on the turn. Sadly, Suarez saw his formidable drive thump off the outside of the post.

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The chances kept coming Barca's way, but the Blaugrana continued to waste them. Next up, it was Suarez sending Messi clear with a smart square pass when through on goal. Osasuna had goalkeeper Nauzet Perez to thank for denying the normally prolific Messi.

Barca's terrific No. 10 was soon denied again after yet more stylish work with Suarez. A quick-witted, one-two passing move put Messi through, but his attempt to scoop over Perez only sent the ball sailing above the bar.

As is so often the case in football, Barca were nearly punished for their profligacy. In the end, it was merely Osasuna's turn to spurn a glorious chance of their own when striker Oriol Riera couldn't stretch far enough to prod into an open goal.

Barca had received a let-off after handing Osasuna a few reprieves, but they left the pitch at half-time frustrated.

There was another scare for Barcelona when forward Sergio Leon produced some eye-catching skill after the break. He left Sergio Busquets standing on the turn before accelerating past Samuel Umtiti with incredible pace.

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The only thing missing was the finish, but Leon did what he could with a clever chip that floated on to the crossbar. Osasuna couldn't build on their chances, though, despite the visitors looking rattled.

Barca needed a moment of genuine quality to revive them from their slumbers, and they duly got it from Messi. His precision through pass found Alba, whose low cross was tapped in by a predatory Suarez.

Alba was the provider again when he teed up Messi for Barca's second after the former Valencia full-back had been set free by a smart pass from classy schemer Denis Suarez.

Alba now knows no equal as a provider among defenders in Spain's top flight, according to Squawka:

As for Messi, he continued a recent trend of tormenting Osasuna, per WhoScored.com:

Barca now had the lead they merited and were able to settle into a passive, counter-attack mode of play. Alba narrowly avoided putting Messi in again late on, but the main man did it himself to bag Barca's third, slamming home a shot after a weaving run.

Post-Match Reaction

Goalscorer Suarez reaffirmed Barca's desire and ability to retain the title, per the club's official site:

Meanwhile, manager Luis Enrique expressed his delight at the number of chances his side produced:

The onus is now on Los Blancos to match the champions' result.