Osasuna's Chimy Avila is mobbed by teammates after scoring his sides 2nd goal of the game during the La Liga soccer match between Osasuna and FC Barcelona at the El Sadar stadium in Pamplona, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021.The match ended in a 2-2 draw. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) Goals from Barcelona’s latest teenage talents weren’t enough to save Xavi Hernández’s side from another letdown Sunday after a late strike gave Osasuna a 2-2 draw in the Spanish league.
Barcelona was leading 2-1 after 19-year-olds Nico González and Abde Ezzalzouli scored their first goals since joining the team from the club’s youth squads this season.
But Osasuna substitute Chimy Ávila struck from long range, with the ball deflecting off a Barcelona defender before going in, to pull the hosts level with four minutes to go.
FT #OsasunaBarça 2-2
❤️💪 @caosasuna_en dig deep to earn a draw at El Sadar!#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/jjDqU5yoWZ
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) December 12, 2021
Nico and Abde form part of a group of young players, along with Pedri González and Gavi Páez. The group is providing the only bright side to a dismal campaign for Barcelona.
Barcelona has only won once on the road in the league this season, following the exit of Lionel Messi.
Barcelona is in eighth place, 15 points behind leader Real Madrid which hosts defending champion Atlético Madrid later Sunday.
The draw at Osasuna came after back-to-back defeats for Barcelona. It had lost 1-0 at home to Real Betis in the league before falling 3-0 at Bayern Munich to exit the Champions League at the group phase for the first time in 17 years.
Barcelona was playing without injured top scorer Memphis Depay. Defender Samuel Umtiti played his first minutes of the season as a surprise inclusion in Xavi’s starting 11.
Also Sunday, Villarreal beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 at home.
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