Osasuna snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory against Celta Vigo at Estadio Abanca-Balaídos, with substitute Raúl García de Haro netting a late winner.
Osasuna edged Celta Vigo 2-1 in a tense La Liga encounter on February 6, 2026. Substitute Raúl García de Haro delivered the crucial blow with a 79th-minute goal, securing all three points for the visitors.
Celta Vigo, sitting 7th in the league, aimed to solidify their European aspirations on home soil. Meanwhile, 9th-placed Osasuna sought to close the gap on their rivals and improve their mid-table standing. The match promised a close contest given their proximity in the league and Celta's slightly better form.
The first half began with Celta Vigo controlling possession, dictating the tempo of the game. Despite their dominance, they struggled to convert opportunities into clear-cut chances early on.
Osasuna made an early tactical change in the 31st minute, with Flavien Boyomo leaving the field for J. Herrando. This substitution seemed to inject new energy into the away side's attack.
Just four minutes later, Osasuna broke the deadlock. Ante Budimir, assisted by Raúl Moro, slotted home in the 35th minute to give the visitors a surprise lead. Celta Vigo pushed for an equalizer before the break, but Osasuna's defense held firm. Raúl García received a yellow card for rough play in first-half stoppage time.
At halftime, Celta Vigo needed to find a way to convert their possession into goals. Osasuna looked to maintain their defensive shape and capitalize on counter-attacks.
The second half saw Celta Vigo intensify their efforts, and their persistence paid off. Borja Iglesias converted a penalty in the 53rd minute, drawing the home side level. The equalizer ignited the Balaídos crowd and set up a thrilling final period.
Following the goal, Celta's J. Rueda picked up a yellow card in the 56th minute for holding. Both teams then began to make changes, with Celta Vigo introducing Óscar Mingueza and Williot Swedberg in the 67th minute, replacing J. Rueda and Hugo Álvarez respectively. Osasuna responded in the 70th minute by bringing on Raúl García de Haro for Ante Budimir, while Asier Osambela also entered the fray.
The decisive moment arrived in the 79th minute. Substitute Raúl García de Haro, connecting with a pass from Alejandro Catena, fired home Osasuna's second goal. This late strike caught Celta Vigo off guard, who had been pushing for a winner themselves.
Celta Vigo threw everything forward in the closing stages, making several late substitutions including Iago Aspas. However, Osasuna's goalkeeper Sergio Herrera made three crucial saves to deny the home side any further goals. Victor Rosier received a yellow card for tripping in injury time.
The statistics highlight Celta Vigo's frustration; they boasted 57% possession and an xG of 2.16 from 18 total shots, yet only scored once. In contrast, Osasuna proved clinical, scoring two goals from just 8 shots and an xG of 0.67. This efficiency sealed their victory.
This hard-fought victory sees Osasuna gain valuable points, solidifying their position in the top half of the La Liga table. Celta Vigo, despite their attacking efforts, missed an opportunity to climb higher, leaving them to reflect on missed chances at home.
