Osasuna win and push Valladolid to the brink of relegation

Osasuna edged Real Valladolid 3-2 on Sunday in a thrilling and emotionally charged La Liga encounter at El Sadar Stadium, a result that had massive implications at both ends of the table.

With the victory, the Pamplona side climbed to 10th place in the standings, now level on 41 points with Rayo Vallecano, and remain firmly in the race for a potential European spot. Meanwhile, Valladolid’s survival hopes suffered another blow, as they remain anchored to the bottom of the league with just 32 points and a looming sense of inevitability about their return to the Segunda División.

The match was marked by intensity, quality attacking football, and moments of individual brilliance, particularly from Ante Budimir, who netted twice and continues to lead Osasuna’s frontline with confidence and consistency.

From the very start, Osasuna looked like a team on a mission. They played with urgency, purpose, and an attacking mentality that Valladolid simply couldn't match. The home fans didn’t have to wait long to celebrate in just the 9th minute, Osasuna broke the deadlock. A well-worked move down the right flank ended with Jon Moncayola delivering a perfectly placed cross into the box. Budimir, always alert, found just enough space between the defenders and met the ball with a clinical header that left goalkeeper Jordi Masip rooted to the spot. It was his 13th goal of the campaign and yet another example of the Croatian’s predatory instincts in front of goal.

The early goal only boosted Osasuna’s confidence, and they continued to dominate possession and territory. Valladolid, meanwhile, looked disjointed and overwhelmed. Their midfield struggled to keep pace with Osasuna’s slick movement, and their defensive line was constantly exposed by the width and pace of Rubén Peña and Rubén García.

In the 34th minute, the hosts doubled their lead and deservedly so. After a spell of sustained pressure, the ball eventually found its way to Rubén García at the edge of the box following some sharp passing in tight spaces. Without hesitation, the winger slotted a low shot past Masip and into the far corner. El Sadar erupted once more, and Valladolid looked stunned. They had offered virtually nothing in attack and were fortunate to head into halftime only two goals down.

At the break, Valladolid manager Paulo Pezzolano made several tactical changes in a desperate attempt to claw something back. To their credit, the visitors did come out with greater intensity, and in the 49th minute, they were rewarded. Substitute Raúl Moro provided the spark, picking up a loose ball outside the box and driving inside before releasing a low, driven shot that sneaked past Sergio Herrera. Suddenly, the score was 2-1, and Valladolid had a lifeline.

For a brief period, it looked like the match might tilt in the visitors’ favor. Their midfield began pressing higher, and Osasuna were forced to retreat momentarily. But any hopes of a comeback were crushed just eleven minutes later. In the 60th minute, Budimir struck again. After a quick break, a clever layoff found him at the edge of the area. He took one touch to control and calmly finished into the bottom corner for his second of the game and 14th of the season. It was a killer blow, and the home fans knew it.

Valladolid, to their credit, did not fold. Just six minutes after Budimir’s second, Mamadou Sylla reduced the deficit once again, reacting first to a rebound after a blocked shot and poking it home from close range. The score was now 3-2, and though Osasuna still looked in control, the tension in the stadium began to rise. With more than 20 minutes left on the clock, anything still felt possible.

The final stages were open and chaotic, with both teams pushing for goals Osasuna to kill the match, Valladolid to rescue a point. But the home side defended bravely. David García and Aridane stood tall at the back, while Sergio Herrera made a crucial late save to deny Sylla a second and preserve the win.

At full time, the relief and satisfaction were clear on the faces of the Osasuna players and supporters. Not only had they secured a valuable three points, but they had done so in a match that tested their focus and resolve. The result keeps them in touching distance of the European places an achievement that would mark a huge success for Jagoba Arrasate’s side.

For Valladolid, however, the situation is becoming increasingly desperate. With just six games left, they will need to string together a miraculous run of results and hope other teams falter if they are to avoid the drop. Their defense remains leaky, their confidence visibly shaken, and their fixtures ahead offer little room for optimism.

This match was a reflection of the season both clubs have had: Osasuna, ambitious and competitive, still fighting for something greater; Valladolid, fighting simply to survive and increasingly losing that fight.