Real Madrid held to 1-1 draw against Osasuna but retains La Liga lead

Real Madrid took to the pitch on Saturday with the goal of maintaining their lead in La Liga. Facing Osasuna at the El Sadar Stadium, the Merengues struggled and ended up with a 1-1 draw in a tightly contested match. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half, but Budimir equalized from the penalty spot for the home team. The result left Real Madrid with 51 points, just one ahead of Atlético Madrid, who still have a game to play in this round.

The match was marked by moments of tension and missed opportunities from both sides. Real Madrid dominated possession in the first half, creating more chances, but Osasuna’s defense held firm. Jude Bellingham’s red card in the final minutes of the first half proved costly, as Osasuna took advantage of the numerical superiority to push forward and secure a draw in the second period.

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With this result, Real Madrid remains at the top of the table but sees its advantage shrink. Osasuna, on the other hand, stays mid-table, looking for a strong finish to fight for a European competition spot next season.

Mbappé shines early, but Real Madrid fails to capitalize

From the first whistle, Real Madrid took control of the game, dictating the pace and pressing Osasuna’s defense. Mbappé, the most active player in attack, was decisive in breaking the deadlock. In the 14th minute, Federico Valverde delivered a low cross from the right, and Mbappé anticipated the defenders, finishing with precision to beat goalkeeper Herrera.

The visitors had a golden opportunity to double their lead shortly after. Vinícius Júnior received a well-placed pass from Mbappé inside the box, but his shot lacked power, making it an easy save for Herrera. Later in the half, Mbappé tried a long-range effort, but the Osasuna goalkeeper was well positioned to catch the ball.

Osasuna grew into the game toward the end of the first half and nearly equalized through Oroz, who capitalized on a mistake by Camavinga but fired his shot over the bar. However, Real Madrid’s situation worsened significantly in the 39th minute when Bellingham was sent off for dissent against the referee, leaving his team with ten men for the remainder of the match.

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— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) February 15, 2025

Osasuna capitalizes on numerical advantage as Budimir levels from the spot

Osasuna came back stronger in the second half, sensing an opportunity against the undermanned Real Madrid side. In the 11th minute, after a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty to Osasuna following a foul by Camavinga inside the box. Budimir stepped up and confidently sent Courtois the wrong way, leveling the score.

Real Madrid responded with urgency, and Vinícius Júnior came close to restoring the lead with a brilliant solo run, only for his curling effort to narrowly miss the post. Minutes later, Luka Modric had a great chance from a cross by Vinícius but sent his shot wide.

As the game neared its conclusion, Mbappé once again showed his explosiveness, racing past his marker and firing a powerful shot, but Herrera produced an excellent save to deny him. Osasuna also had a late chance with Rubén García, who met a cross with a solid header, but Courtois was there to block it.

Match statistics

• Possession: Real Madrid 58% – 42% Osasuna
• Shots: Real Madrid 12 – 7 Osasuna
• Corners: Real Madrid 4 – 3 Osasuna
• Yellow cards: Real Madrid 2 – 3 Osasuna
• Red cards: Real Madrid 1 – 0 Osasuna

Key players of the match

• Kylian Mbappé: Scored Real Madrid’s only goal and remained their most dangerous attacking threat.
• Ante Budimir: Converted the penalty to secure the draw for Osasuna.
• Jude Bellingham: His red card changed the course of the match, putting Madrid at a disadvantage.
• Thibaut Courtois: Made crucial saves to keep Osasuna from snatching a late winner.
• Sergio Herrera: Osasuna’s goalkeeper had a brilliant game, making multiple key stops.

Match timeline

• 14′ – 1st goal: Valverde crosses low, and Mbappé beats his marker to put Real Madrid ahead.
• 39′ – Red card: Jude Bellingham is sent off for dissent.
• 11′ – 2nd goal: Budimir converts a penalty to level the score for Osasuna.

Impact of the result on La Liga standings

• Real Madrid stays top of La Liga with 51 points, but their lead is now only one point over Atlético Madrid.
• Osasuna remains in ninth place with 32 points, continuing their push for a European qualification spot.
• The race for the La Liga title is intensifying, with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid closely trailing Real Madrid.

Upcoming fixtures for Real Madrid and Osasuna

• Real Madrid faces a tough challenge in their next match and must win to maintain their position at the top.
• Osasuna will look to build momentum and fight for a spot in European competitions next season.