Stoppage-time heartbreak: Osasuna sink Real Madrid to hand Barcelona the title advantage
Real Madrid’s grip on the La Liga title race loosened on Saturday night as a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Raúl García de Haro secured a 2-1 victory for Osasuna at El Sadar. The defeat, Alvaro Arbeloa’s first league loss in six games, leaves Madrid on 60 points; just two ahead of Barcelona, who host Levante on Sunday with a game in hand and the chance to move into first place.
A clinical penalty from Ante Budimir gave the hosts a first-half lead before Vinicius Junior equalized in the 73rd minute. However, a late lapse in concentration from substitute Dani Ceballos allowed Garcia de Haro to rifle home a 91st-minute winner, which stood after a tense VAR review for offside.
VAR drama and Budimir’s breakthrough
Osasuna dominated the early exchanges, testing Thibaut Courtois with a series of sharp counter-attacks. The Belgian goalkeeper produced a stunning reflex save in the 24th minute after teammate Álvaro Carreras miscued a clearance, but he could not prevent the breakthrough ten minutes later.
The opening goal arrived following heavy VAR intervention. While the referee initially booked Budimir for simulation as he rounded the keeper, replays clearly showed Courtois had stood on the striker’s foot. The decision was overturned, and Budimir calmly converted the spot-kick to give the Pamplona side a deserved 1-0 lead.
Race snapshot
Real Madrid: 60 points (Played 25)
Barcelona: 58 points (Played 24)
Next for Madrid: Champions League vs. Benfica (Wednesday)
Next for Barca: vs. Levante (Sunday)
Vinicius responds amid emotional week
Real Madrid emerged with more purpose after the interval, though they found Sergio Herrera in inspired form. The visitors’ frustration grew when Kylian Mbappe saw a superb strike ruled out for a marginal offside in the 70th minute.
Minutes later, Madrid finally broke through. Federico Valverde surged down the left flank and delivered a low cross into the six-yard box, where Vinícius Junior arrived to slide the ball home. It was the Brazilian’s fifth goal in four games, providing a defiant sporting response to a week overshadowed by reports of racial abuse during the midweek Champions League playoff in Lisbon.
Stoppage-time heartbreak at El Sadar
As Madrid pressed for a winner, a catastrophic error in the 91st minute decided the contest. Substitute Dani Ceballos lost possession under a high press from Osasuna, allowing Raúl Moro to release Garcia de Haro. The forward beat Raul Asencio before firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
El Sadar erupted, though celebrations were momentarily silenced by an offside flag. A second VAR review of the evening ultimately confirmed the goal was legal, securing Osasuna’s first league win over Real Madrid since 2011.
Key stats: Osasuna 2-1 Real Madrid
Possession: Osasuna 38% - 62% Real Madrid
Shots on target: Osasuna 5 - 4 Real Madrid
Distance covered: Osasuna outran Madrid by 4.2km.
XG (Expected Goals): Osasuna 1.84 - 1.12 Real Madrid
VAR Reviews: 3 (1 penalty awarded, 2 goals reviewed for offside).
Arbeloa calls for "Punch and teeth"
Following the match, a frustrated Alvaro Arbeloa did not mince words regarding his team’s performance. "We lacked punch, teeth, and speed up front," Arbeloa told reporters. "Against any deep defensive block, we need to move the ball faster. If you’re not at 100%, anyone can beat you."
The manager also defended his decision to substitute Valverde, noting the midfielder had been playing through "discomfort" and he did not want to risk a long-term injury. Meanwhile, Ceballos took to social media to apologize for the error that led to the winner, posting on Instagram: "I take responsibility. I ask for the fans' forgiveness."
