Real Madrid suffered a sensational 1-2 defeat to Osasuna Pamplona in the 25th round of La Liga, losing the top spot in the table to FC Barcelona. The decisive goal in the 90th minute was scored by Raúl García, ending Álvaro Arbeloa's team's streak of nine consecutive victories. The match at El Sadar was marked by refereeing controversies related to a penalty for the hosts and immense pressure from the stands directed against Vinícius Júnior.

Raúl García's Lethal Finish

The winning goal for Osasuna came in the 90th minute after a spectacular dribble that embarrassed the Real Madrid defense and silenced the favorites.

Controversial Penalty

Referee Quintero González, after consulting with VAR, changed a card for simulation to a penalty for Budimir, which opened the scoring.

End of Osasuna's Losing Streak

The hosts defeated Real Madrid for the first time in 15 years, breaking their streak of matches without a win against this rival at home.

Arbeloa's Squad Problems

The absence of Dean Huijsen due to a calf injury and fatigue after the Champions League affected the defensive stability of the league leader.

Saturday evening in Pamplona brought one of the biggest surprises of the season, which could determine the fate of the Spanish championship. Real Madrid entered the match as the leader with a two-point advantage over FC Barcelona, but the pitch verified the powerhouse plans of Álvaro Arbeloa's team. The first half belonged to the hosts, who took the lead after a penalty converted by Ante Budimir. This situation sparked huge emotions – the referee initially booked the Croatian with a yellow card for simulation, but after VAR system intervention, he changed his decision, awarding a penalty against the visitors. After the sides changed, Real Madrid managed to equalize, but their play was far from ideal, as highlighted by numerous defensive errors. Just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, in the 90th minute, Raúl García executed a brilliant individual play. The Osasuna substitute dribbled past Asensio and Trent Alexander-Arnold, then beat Thibaut Courtois with a precise shot, securing a historic victory for his team. This defeat is particularly painful for "The Royals," as it ends their unbeaten run at the El Sadar stadium, where they had remained undefeated since 2011. The El Sadar stadium in Pamplona is considered one of the most inhospitable venues in Spain; Osasuna fans are known for their fanatical support, and the history of matches with Real Madrid is often associated with high tension in the stands and on-pitch incidents. The atmosphere in the stadium was extremely tense, and the main target of verbal attacks from the fans became Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian, despite support from the coaching staff, could not turn the tide of the match. Real's squad situation did not make the task easier – just before the match, young defender Dean Huijsen was ruled out, forcing changes in the defensive block. The victory allowed Osasuna to safely distance themselves from the relegation zone and join the fight for places guaranteeing play in European cups, while FC Barcelona gained a chance to return to the top of the table. „Ha sido el gol de mi vida. Superar a rivales tan grandes y batir a Courtois en el último minuto es el sueño de cualquier futbolista.” (It was the goal of my life. Beating such great rivals and defeating Courtois in the last minute is the dream of any footballer.) — Raúl García

Mentioned People

  • Álvaro Arbeloa — Real Madrid coach, under whose leadership the team lost the top spot.
  • Raúl García — Osasuna's hero, scorer of the decisive goal in the 90th minute of the match.
  • Ante Budimir — Osasuna striker, who successfully converted the penalty in the first half.
  • Vinícius Júnior — Real Madrid star, targeted by the home fans' attacks during the match.
  • Thibaut Courtois — Real Madrid goalkeeper, beaten twice in the match against Osasuna.