Osasuna achieved a remarkable 2-0 victory against Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, propelling themselves closer to potential European qualification. The match, held at their home ground, saw Alejandro Catena open the scoring with a header from a corner in the 25th minute. Ante Budimir sealed the win late in the game with another header, marking his 20th league goal this season, which places him third in the LaLiga scoring charts behind Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski.
This win elevates Osasuna to ninth place in the standings, now level on points with Rayo Vallecano, who currently occupy the final spot for Conference League qualifiers. The team is on the brink of a European return, nearly two decades after reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League, then known as the UEFA Cup, in 2007. Last season, they fell short in the Conference League playoffs against Club Brugge.
Atletico Madrid, who were previously in contention for the title, have now solidified their position in third with 70 points after 36 matches. Despite a previous impressive victory over Real Sociedad, Diego Simeone’s team appeared unmotivated during this match. They wasted a chance to equalize when Alexander Sorloth’s diving header was brilliantly saved by Osasuna’s goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.
Next up for Osasuna is a home match against 16th-placed Espanyol, followed by an away game against Deportivo Alaves. Meanwhile, Atletico will face Real Betis and Girona in their final attempts to secure a strong finish to the season.
Osasuna’s determination and impressive performance can inspire hope among their fans, suggesting that the dream of European football is very much alive. This positive momentum could redefine their journey in the upcoming matches, making for an exciting conclusion to their season.
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