Barcelona 4-0 Osasuna: Player ratings as Torres brace helps Blaugrana into La Liga top 3

Barcelona sauntered to an easy 4-0 thumping of Osasuna on Sunday night, cruising into La Liga's top three with a game in hand on their rivals below.

The match quickly settled into an expected pattern, as Barcelona rattled the ball around, prodding and probing for a gap in Osasuna's narrow 4-2-3-1.

By the time Nacho Vidal gifted the hosts a penalty 14 minutes in, Barcelona had completed more passes in the final third than their opponents could manage anywhere on the pitch.

Gavi scampered onto Sergio Busquets' pass into the area, wriggling goal-side of Vidal, luring the right-back into a clumsy barge for a spot-kick Ferran Torres clinically converted.

Barcelona maintained a suffocating monopoly of possession and territory by fiercely pressing their mid-table visitors.

Ousmane Dembele floated infield, slicing through the jagged lines of Osasuna's scrambled rearguard to tee up Torres for a quick-fire second. The French World Cup winner laid on Barcelona's third within the opening half-hour, whipping the ball towards the near post which Aubameyang toed in.

Xavi's side were admittedly aided by a sluggish and timid Osasuna. Not only did the visitors stand off Dembele as he delivered the cross, but watched on as the 38-year-old Dani Alves creaked through a spate of step-overs in the build up to the goal.

Barcelona had such ease in possession they actively created rondos around the pitch, encircling a poor Osasuna player with a blur of passes before moving on to the next hapless victim.

Second-half substitute Riqui Puig injected a surge of urgency into a match that was meandering to its conclusion. Sprinting onto the parry of his own shot, Puig coolly rounded Sergio Herrera, taking his time before stuffing in a fourth with 15 minutes left.

On the same day Barcelona Femeni wrapped up the Spanish top flight in faultless and emphatic style, the male wing of the club enjoyed a fraction of the imperious dominance their counterparts take as a given.

Barcelona player ratings vs Osasuna

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) - 6/10 - Given precious little to do in possession or by the opposition.

Dani Alves (RB) - 7/10 - Drifted very centrally, almost alongside Sergio Busquets at times when Barcelona had possession.

Gerard Pique (CB) - 6/10 - On his 600th Barcelona appearance, the veteran centre-back had one or two lapses in concentration but breezed through much of the hour he was left on the pitch.

Eric Garcia (CB) - 7/10 - Composed in possession, Garcia was scarcely tested off the ball.

Jordi Alba (LB) - 7/10 - A constant outlet as Barcelona endlessly recycled the ball but not overly involved in the final third.

2. Midfielders

Pedri (CM) - 7/10 - Subtling knitting together Barcelona's moves down the right half of the pitch. The Camp Nou crowd acknowledged Pedri's contribution with a collective show of disappointment when he was prematurely removed.

Sergio Busquets (CM) - 8/10 - Orchestrating the game with an effortless grace Busquets still exudes when he is allowed to dictate the tempo, preventing himself from ever breaking out of a trot.

Gavi (CM) - 8/10 - A bubbling embodiment of youthful exuberance, Gavi was an undiluted nuisance throughout, finishing the match with some outrageous flicks and flourishes.

3. Forwards

Ousmane Dembele (RW) - 8/10 - Took full advantage of the acres of space he was afforded to display the full array of his devastating passing range. Had his shooting been as accurate, the score could have been double digits.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) - 7/10 - Took his goal superbly but also peppered his performance with selfless darts to create space for teammates.

Ferran Torres (LW) - 8/10 - Banished a squall of poor finishing with brilliantly taken efforts that hit the square of netting furthest from Sergio Herrera.

4. Substitutes

Clement Lenglet (CB) - 7/10 - Carried out what little he had to do without much fuss (uncharacteristically).

Riqui Puig (CM) - 7/10 - Making the most of one of the few opportunities he is given.

Memphis Depay (ST) - 6/10 - Squandered a late chance for Barcelona to make it five with poor decision in transition.

Martin Braithwaite (ST) - N/A

Oscar Mingueza (LB) - N/A