La Liga 2025-26: Osasuna stuns Real Madrid 2-1 to blow title race wide open

Osasuna shocked Real Madrid 2-1 in their 2025-26 La Liga match on Saturday as goals from Ante Budimir and Raul Garcia del Haro dented the leaders’ title hopes and gave Barcelona the chance to go top.

Real remained on 60 points, two ahead of Barcelona, ​​who have a game in hand and host Levante on Sunday.

Osasuna went in front in the 34th minute after a VAR review showed Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had stepped on Budimir’s foot. The referee overturned an initial booking for simulation and ‌Budimir calmly converted the penalty.

Real leveled when Federico Valverde shot to the left and crossed low for Vinicius Jr. slid home from close range in the 73rd minute.

But as the visitor pressed inside extra time, substitute Dani Ceballos lost possession and Raul Moro released Garcia del Haro, who beat Raul Asencio before firing into the top corner to seal a famous victory at Pamplona’s El Sadar Stadium.

«We lacked punch, teeth and speed up front. We have a big margin to improve and a long road ahead of us, starting on Wednesday in the Champions League against Benfica,» Real manager Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters.

Madrid started deliberately, but were repeatedly unsettled by Osasuna’s sharp counter-attacks.

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Thibaut Courtois was forced into action in the 24th minute, producing a stunning one-handed save from point-blank range after teammate Alvaro Carreras was fouled in the six-yard box.

Osasuna sensed opportunities. Budimir sent a towering header against the post four minutes later.

Kylian Mbappe tested Sergio Herrera with a 30th-minute drive from the edge of the penalty area that pushed the keeper around the post. From the resulting corner, David Alaba saw his effort blocked by a last-ditch defender in the middle of a crowded penalty area.

The breakthrough came amid much drama in the 34th minute, with the local crowd on the edge of their seats waiting for the VAR decision. They erupted with joy when the penalty was awarded and after Budimir converted from the spot.

However, Real pressed on but struggled to break Osasuna’s disciplined defence. Mbappe thought he had equalized in the 70th minute with a brilliant strike, but VAR ruled him marginally offside before Vinicius eventually scored the equalizer.

Madrid pushed for a winner and Javi Galan guided Mbappe’s effort over the goal line in the 78th minute as the visitors turned the screw.

But just as Real looked to be closing in, Osasuna struck decisively on half-time, with a remarkable goal from Garcia del Haro that was first ruled out by the referee for offside before VAR overturned the decision to the delight of the fans.

Atletico beats Espanyol

Alexander Sorloth struck twice as Atletico Madrid regained the lead in La Liga with an entertaining 4-2 win over Espanyol on Saturday.

Fourth-place Diego Simeone’s side recorded their first win in four league matches in a goal-packed match at their Metropolitano stadium.

They are twelve points behind leaders Real Madrid, which previously lost 2-1 in Osasuna, meaning that their hopes for the title are all but over.

However, Atletico managed to extend a six-point lead over fifth-place Real Betis after the Andalusians drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano.

Atletico host Club Brugge in a crucial Champions League play-off match on Tuesday, after drawing 3-3 in the first leg in Belgium on Wednesday.

(With input from AFP)

Published on February 22, 2026