A sensational outcome in Pamplona ended Real Madrid's eight-match winning streak. The team led by Álvaro Arbeloa fell to Osasuna 1-2, conceding the decisive goal in the final minute of regulation time. Despite a goal from Vinícius Júnior, the visitors could not turn the match around. This defeat opens the door for Barcelona to reclaim the top spot in the Spanish top flight, which could happen as early as after Sunday's match between the Catalan giants and Levante.

End of Arbeloa's winning streak

Real Madrid ended its run of eight consecutive league victories, losing for the first time under the new coach.

Decisive role of the VAR system

The referee twice changed key decisions after video review, including awarding a penalty to the hosts.

Post-match riots

Police intervention against fans in Pamplona led to clashes and panic in the stands of Estadio El Sadar.

Opportunity for Barcelona

The Royals' defeat means FC Barcelona could become the leader if it wins Sunday's match against Levante.

Saturday evening at Estadio El Sadar brought one of the biggest surprises of the current Spanish La Liga season. Real Madrid, entering the match as the league leader, was defeated by ninth-placed Osasuna Pamplona. The hosts took the lead in the 38th minute from a penalty converted by Ante Budimir. The referee awarded the penalty after intervention from the VAR system, which showed a foul by Thibaut Courtois on the Croatian striker. The Royals equalized in the 73rd minute thanks to a goal from Vinícius Júnior, for whom this was his first appearance after racist incidents in the match against Benfica. When it seemed the match would end in a draw, in the 90th minute Raúl García sealed the hosts' victory with a precise shot. This defeat is particularly painful for coach Álvaro Arbeloa, as it marks his first league loss since taking charge of the first team. Media outlets highlight the poor performance of Kylian Mbappé, who in Pamplona appeared isolated from the rest of the team. Osasuna Pamplona is a club from Navarre, long known for its extremely ambitious play at its home stadium, colloquially called a "visit to the dentist" for the league's biggest powers. Osasuna's last victory over Real Madrid at El Sadar occurred in 2011, giving Saturday's result a historic dimension. Beyond the sporting aspect, the match was overshadowed by incidents in the stands. After the final whistle, there was a confrontation between fans and security and police. Riots broke out when order services attempted to identify a fan who had earlier thrown a bottle towards the visiting goalkeeper. Spanish media report "scenes of panic" in the sectors occupied by the home supporters. In the Real Madrid camp, an additional concern is the muscle injury to Dani Ceballos, which rules him out for at least several weeks. „Hay que jugar mucho mejor, con más intensidad. Sabemos que no es fácil hacerlo miércoles y domingo, pero es lo que se nos exige. Esto es el Real Madrid.” (We have to play much better, with more intensity. We know it's not easy to do it on Wednesday and Sunday, but that's what's demanded of us. This is Real Madrid.) — Álvaro Arbeloa Match result of La Liga Matchday 25: Osasuna 2:1 Real Madrid Situation at the top of the table (as of 21.02.2026): Real Madrid's points: 60 → 60; Barcelona's deficit: 2 pts → 2 pts (game in hand)

Mentioned People

  • Álvaro Arbeloa — Real Madrid coach, who recorded his first league defeat in this position.
  • Vinícius Júnior — Brazilian forward for Real Madrid, scorer of the only goal for the visitors.
  • Kylian Mbappé — French star of Real Madrid, criticized for a poor performance in the match against Osasuna.