Osasuna Snaps Winless Streak in Thrilling 2-1 Victory!
Okay, so picture this: El Sadar stadium, April 13th, 2025. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Osasuna, on an eight-game losing streak, was facing Girona, and both teams were practically clinging to the edge of the La Liga cliff, desperately trying to avoid relegation. It was a nail-biter from the start, I tell you.
Budimir's Header and Girona's Frustrations
Osasuna's star striker, Ante Budimir – the guy's got 15 goals this season, seriously impressive – finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. A powerful header, right into the back of the net! The crowd went wild. It was exactly the boost Osasuna needed. Before that, though, it felt like watching a slow-motion trainwreck. They had so many near misses; it was agonizing! And to add insult to injury, Girona had a goal disallowed for offside early on, and then another one for Danjuma later. They were not happy campers.
A Late Surge and a Heart-Stopping Finish
The second half? Total chaos. Girona came out fighting, pushing hard for an equalizer. But then, out of nowhere, substitute Pablo Ibáñez blasted one in from outside the box in the 79th minute. Two-nil! I thought, "Okay, that’s it, Osasuna's got this." Wrong. Yáser Asprilla scored for Girona in the 96th minute – honestly, who saw that coming?! Suddenly, it was a frantic last few minutes. But Osasuna held on, winning 2-1 in front of a roaring 20,260 fans. What a finish!
Girona's Relegation Fears Grow
This loss was rough for Girona. Nine games without a win now, and they're only five points above the relegation zone. Yikes! They had some brilliant moments, especially that late push, but they just couldn't convert their chances. Viktor Tsygankov even got subbed off in the 51st minute. Their coach, MĂchel, admitted they need to work on their finishing—big time.
Post-Match Musings and the Numbers
Osasuna's coach, Vicente Moreno, was obviously relieved. He kept stressing how vital this win was for their survival. MĂchel, on the other hand, was focused on getting Girona back on track. Statistically, Osasuna had slightly better possession (51%) and more shots on target (5 to Girona's 3). It shows they were more clinical in front of the goal. The match was pretty heated too; there were several yellow cards. It was intense!
What's Next for These Two?
Osasuna’s win pushed them up to 12th place, giving them some breathing room. But the fight for survival isn't over yet. Both teams face a crucial period. Osasuna needs to build on this momentum, while Girona needs to figure out how to turn things around and avoid dropping into a lower division. Every single point counts now!