Gerard Piqué sent off in final career match as Barça beats Osasuna, Lewandowski sees red too

Robert Lewandowski was shown his first red card in nearly a decade and Gerard Piqué was sent off from the bench in his last career match as Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-1 in La Liga

With an improbable win, Barcelona made sure it will go into the World Cup break at the top of the Spanish league standings.

Robert Lewandowski was shown his first red card in nearly a decade and Gerard Piqué was sent off from the bench in his last career match, but Raphinha scored late as Barcelona rallied to defeat Osasuna 2-1 and secure the Spanish league lead ahead of the World Cup stoppage.

Lewandowski's second career red card came in the first half of Tuesday's victory, which left the Catalan club five points ahead of Real Madrid. Madrid, which has a game in hand, endured its first league loss of the season, 3-2 at Rayo Vallecano on Monday. The defending champions will host relegation-threatened Cádiz on Thursday.

Piqué was sent off for complaining to the referee following the halftime whistle. The veteran Spain defender had made Xavi Hernández's squad even though he bid farewell at the Camp Nou at the weekend after announcing his retirement from football.

Lewandowski, who hadn't been sent off since 2013 while still playing for Borussia Dortmund, was shown his second yellow card in the 31st minute after going hard into the body of Osasuna defender David García away from the ball.

García had opened the scoring for the hosts with a header in the sixth minute. Pedri González equalized in the 48th with a strike from inside the area after the Osasuna defense failed to fully clear a cross by Jordi Alba, and substitute Raphinha netted the winner in the 85th with a header after a long cross by Frenkie de Jong. The Brazilian forward had entered the game seven minutes earlier.

“It was a difficult match and it got even harder after Robert was sent off,” Pedri said. “We knew we would have an opportunity, and got the goal when we had the chance.” Barcelona seemed beaten but Raphinha scored after breaking free from the defenders to get to De Jong's long ball, with his header from the edge of the area going over the goalkeeper and into the net.