Barcelona 1 Osasuna 0: Xavi's late winner allows Barcelona to reel in Real

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A Xavi Hernandez goal two minutes from time breathed new life into the Spanish title race last night bringing Barcelona to within six points of leaders Real Madrid. Having missed numerous chances in the first half, the clock was running down on Barça's big chance to take advantage of a rare defeat the night before for Real Madrid at Almeria.

In the driving rain, Giovanni dos Santos broke down the left and crossed to Andres Iniesta. When his shot was blocked, the ball ran to Xavi who, from just inside the penalty area, lashed a right-foot shot past Ricardo in the Osasuna goal.

"We missed a lot of chances in the first half but all that matters is that we got the result," their former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry said. "All the time that there are games left you believe that you can do it and we believe a little bit more after this result."

Xavi was mobbed by every single outfield team-mate and the brolly wielding fans breathed a massive sigh of relief, but it all should have been so much easier.

Leo Messi twice threatened Ricardo's goal early on and Henry came close after a jinking run and shot. Bojan Krkic made it four chances in the first 10 minutes as Barcelona skidded their way around Osasuna's static defence.

Gabriel Milito headed home but the goal was ruled out for offside and Ricardo then saved an Henry header with his legs and turned a Bojan shot round the post as Osasuna somehow stayed on level terms into the break.

Barça were slower out of the blocks after the restart and Messi and Henry were replaced by Giovanni and Ronaldinho, his 200th appearance for the club. The change almost worked as Ronaldinho fed Giovanni down the left and his cross ran to Deco in space but the Portuguese midfielder spooned his shot well wide.

It looked like being their last chance but as the rain eased substitute Xavi scored the most important goal of Barcelona's season so far. Moving closer to Real Madrid will give them huge encouragement as will the manner of their rival's defeat the night before.

The sight of the World Cup-winning defender Fabio Cannavaro being out-classed by a former Real Madrid youth-team centre-forward, Alvaro Negredo, and the toothless nature of Real's attack once Ruud van Nistelrooy had limped off with an ankle injury at half-time will give them plenty of hope.

Real made no signings in the transfer window despite doubts over their strength in depth and Van Nistelrooy appears to have no adequate replacement.

Cannavaro, who looks shaky without either of the injured duo Gabriel Heinze or Pepe alongside him, was on all fours inside the six-yard box when the home side went ahead on the quarter-hour. He slipped as Albert Crusat crossed from the left allowing Juanito to arrive at the far post and score. Cannavaro then conceded the second-half penalty that sealed the points for Almeria when he bundled Negredo to the floor, leaving the same player to stroke home the kick.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés; Zambrotta, Thuram, Milito, Abidal; Márquez, Deco (Xavi, 81), Iniesta; Messi (Ronaldinho, 67), Henry (Giovanni, 63), Bojan.

Osasuna (4-2-3-1): Ricardo; Azpilicueta, Cruchaga, Flaño (Astudillo, h-t), Monreal; Puñal (Pandiani, 89), J García; Juanfran, Plasil, Vela (Font, 84); Kike.