Osasuna’s Raul Garcia scores a 90th-minute winner to inflict a 2-1 defeat on leaders Real Madrid, denting their title hopes as Atletico Madrid win
A superb 90th-minute strike from Raul Garcia consigned leaders Real Madrid to a damaging 2-1 defeat at Osasuna in La Liga.
The loss leaves Real Madrid vulnerable at the summit, with champions Barcelona able to overtake them with a win over Levante on Sunday.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side produced a below-par performance at El Sadar and fell behind to an Ante Budimir penalty.
Vinicius Junior pulled the visitors level with a second-half finish, but Garcia blasted home a dramatic late winner.
“It was not a good game from us… we have to play a lot better,” Arbeloa told reporters.
The coach acknowledged his team lacked speed in their play, with attention perhaps drifting to their crucial Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica on Wednesday.
Osasuna took the lead after a VAR review overturned an initial booking for Budimir, showing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had stood on his foot in the area.
The veteran forward sent Courtois the wrong way from the spot.
“I knew it was a penalty and I wanted to stay cool,” said Budimir.
Real Madrid’s equaliser came when Fede Valverde crossed for Vinicius to tuck home.
It was the Brazilian’s fifth goal in his last four games across all competitions.
Kylian Mbappe should have put Madrid ahead late on, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Javi Galan.
Garcia then cut inside brilliantly and fired across Courtois for the winner, which was confirmed onside after a VAR review.
It was Osasuna’s first La Liga victory over Real Madrid in 15 years.
“It’s an incredible feeling… The fans deserved a victory like this after so many years,” Garcia told DAZN.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid got back to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over Espanyol at the Metropolitano.
Alexander Sorloth struck twice as Diego Simeone’s side earned their first league win in four matches.
“We needed to get the points to close in on the teams above us,” said Simeone.
The result leaves Atletico fourth, 12 points behind Real Madrid, but strengthens their grip on a Champions League qualification spot.
Espanyol took an early lead through Jofre, but Sorloth, Giuliano Simeone, and Ademola Lookman put Atletico in control.
Sorloth added a fourth before Edu Exposito scored a late consolation for Espanyol.
The Sun Malaysia
