Osasuna delivered a significant upset in a thrilling encounter, defeating league leaders Real Madrid 2-1 in a La Liga Matchday 25 fixture held at El Sadar Stadium on Sunday, February 22 (early morning WIB) of the 2025/26 season. This stunning victory sent ripples through the top of the Spanish football hierarchy.
Following this crucial win, Osasuna climbed to 9th position in the La Liga table, accumulating 33 points. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, despite the loss, maintained their hold on the top spot with 60 points, a slim two-point lead over rivals Barcelona. Barcelona, however, had yet to play their Matchday 25 game against Levante, scheduled for Sunday (February 22) at 22:15 WIB, offering them a chance to close the gap.
The home side, Osasuna, lined up with a determined starting XI: Sergio Herrera in goal; a defensive line of Javi Galan, Jorge Herrando, Alejandro Catena, and Valentin Rosier; a midfield anchored by Lucas Torro and Jon Moncayola, with Iker Munoz, Aimar Oroz, and Raul Garcia providing creative spark; and Ante Budimir leading the attack. Real Madrid countered with a formidable lineup featuring Thibaut Courtois between the sticks; Alvaro Carreras, David Alaba, Raul Asencio, and Dani Carvajal in defense; a midfield quartet of Edu Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Gueler, and Fede Valverde; and the formidable attacking duo of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe.
The match kicked off with a tight opening period, as both teams battled for dominance. However, after the 20-minute mark, Osasuna began to assert their presence, launching a series of attacks that put Real Madrid under considerable pressure. Several promising opportunities arose for the hosts; notably in the 25th minute, Budimir connected with an accurate header, only to be denied by a brilliant save from Courtois. Just three minutes later, Budimir again threatened, this time seeing his header cannon off the crossbar, signaling Osasuna’s intent.
Real Madrid eventually broke free from the intense pressure, creating their own chance in the 30th minute when David Alaba unleashed a long-range effort that sailed just over the bar. The deadlock was finally broken in the 36th minute when the referee, after a VAR review, pointed to the penalty spot, judging Courtois to have fouled Budimir in a contest for the ball. Budimir stepped up confidently and converted the spot-kick in the 38th minute, putting Osasuna ahead 1-0. As the first half drew to a close, Real Madrid nearly found an equalizer in the 45+2 minute when Aurelien Tchouameni skillfully bypassed an Osasuna defender in the box and fired a powerful shot towards the top corner, only for Sergio Herrera to produce a stunning reflex save.
The score remained 1-0 at halftime, with Real Madrid enjoying 66 percent of possession and registering 9 shots (4 on target), while Osasuna also managed 9 shots (1 on target), reflecting the competitive nature of the first half. The second half continued in similar fashion, with Real Madrid pushing hard for an equalizer. In the 55th minute, Arda Gueler fired a shot from inside the penalty area that narrowly missed, flying just over the crossbar. Ten minutes later, Vinicius Junior created an opportunity, driving in from the left flank and cutting into the penalty box before unleashing a low shot that was bravely blocked by Osasuna’s defense.
Real Madrid thought they had leveled the score in the 70th minute when Kylian Mbappe’s strike found the back of the net, but the goal was ultimately disallowed for offside. However, their persistence paid off shortly after. In the 73rd minute, Fede Valverde accelerated into the penalty area and delivered a precise low cross, which Vinicius Junior met with a clinical finish from close range, finally drawing Real Madrid level at 1-1. The final stretch of the game saw both teams trading blows, each determined to secure a victory. It was Osasuna who ultimately delivered the decisive blow in the 90+1 minute; Raul Garcia received a through ball, skillfully dribbled past a Real Madrid defender, and then fired an accurate shot past Courtois to put Osasuna back in front 2-1. The thrilling encounter concluded with Osasuna holding onto their lead, securing a memorable victory over the La Liga giants.