Good odds for Barcelona to win here as you can get them with a -1.25 handicap with most asian bookmakers.

It would be an exaggeration to say Blaugrana have been the most in-form team in Spain over the last month. Xavi is finally seeing the sort of football he’s been projecting for the team. The Spaniard has even done the impossible - made Ousmane Dembele play! And not just feature on the pitch, but actually contribute to the team’s goals. Dembele is finally showing signs of football he had made a name for himself years ago at Borussia Dortmund.

Now Barca can also rely on Memphis Depay, who disappeared from radars for a few months and has not returned fit and ready to score. He’s been on fire in recent games.

Barcelona took an unexpected break from the goals fest in midweek, when they somehow failed to find the net against Turkish Galatasaray. Xavi’s team had 16 shots, 13 corner kicks and 68% possession of the ball only to get denied and held to a 0-0 draw.

Conversion has been one of the issues for Barca in last 2 games - they also deserved a more comfortable away win vs. Elche than the eventual 2-1. Having said this, the return of Martin Braithwaite is also something Xavi may feel happy to see. In the end the quantity of strikers may lead to their quality…Jokes aside, Ferran Torres, the winter signing from Man City, has been under heavy criticism for his wastefulness in front of goal.

I do not think the return fixture vs. Galatasaray next Thursday will be an issue for hosts here. They are more concerned about qualifying to the Champions League through LaLiga.

Osasuna is a traditionally fun side and since they are not pressured by the current standings in the table, I think, they may actually go out and play relatively open football at Camp Nou.

Barca’s strong bench and tendency to not stop attacking under Xavi makes me confident the given handicap will be covered.