Real Madrid’s unbeaten run in La Liga for 2026 has come to a dramatic halt at El Sadar, where Osasuna pulled off a thrilling 2-1 victory on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The league leaders, riding high after claiming the top spot just a week ago, found themselves stunned by a late strike from Raul Garcia, ending a 15-year drought for Osasuna against the Spanish giants in league play.
From the opening whistle, the energy at El Sadar was palpable. Osasuna, positioned mid-table but on a six-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, looked determined to defend their fortress. Real Madrid, managed by Alvaro Arbeloa, arrived with ambitions of extending their lead at the summit to five points over Barcelona and clinching a ninth consecutive league win. But football rarely follows the script, and this clash delivered twists and turns that left fans breathless.
The first half saw Osasuna take the initiative, pressing Madrid’s defense and creating early chances. Ante Budimir, the home side’s top scorer with 13 goals this season (11 in La Liga), was a constant menace. Early on, Budimir curled a shot just wide of Thibaut Courtois’s far post, signaling Osasuna’s intent. Moments later, Courtois was called into action again, making a sharp save as Budimir tried to nod home a Ruben Garcia cross under pressure from Alvaro Carreras. The Croatian striker then clipped the post with a header as the hosts continued to threaten.
The breakthrough came in the 34th minute, but not without controversy. Budimir burst into the box and went down under a challenge from Courtois. Initially, the referee booked Budimir for simulation, but after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was overturned. Replays showed Courtois had indeed stood on Budimir’s foot. With nerves of steel, Budimir stepped up and coolly dispatched the penalty, sending Courtois the wrong way and igniting the El Sadar crowd. "I knew it was a penalty and I wanted to stay cool (while it was being reviewed)," Budimir told reporters after the match.
Real Madrid, perhaps feeling the strain of an upcoming Champions League playoff second leg against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, looked off the pace in the first half. Arbeloa’s men struggled to find their rhythm, their usually sharp attack blunted by Osasuna’s disciplined defense and relentless pressing. Arbeloa admitted post-match, "It was not a good game from us... we have to play a lot better. Nobody likes to lose, us least of all, but we're not hurt. There's a long way to go. We had control at some points but we lacked speed in our play... on Wednesday we have another final, another game that is very important for us."
After the break, Real Madrid upped the intensity, determined to avoid their first league defeat of 2026. Arbeloa introduced creative reinforcements, bringing on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim Diaz to inject urgency into Madrid’s attack. French superstar Kylian Mbappe, La Liga’s current top goalscorer, thought he had scored the equalizer, only to see the flag raised for offside. Minutes later, Arda Guler’s powerful drive whistled just over the bar, as Madrid’s pressure began to mount.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 73rd minute. Fede Valverde, driving forward with trademark power, shrugged off two Osasuna defenders and squared the ball across the six-yard box. Vinicius Junior, in red-hot form with five goals in his last four outings, was on hand to tap home from close range. The traveling Madrid fans erupted, believing their side had salvaged at least a point. Vinicius’s goal seemed poised to be the launchpad for a late Madrid surge, but Osasuna’s resolve never wavered.
As the clock ticked toward full time, the match hung in the balance. Mbappe had a golden chance to put Madrid ahead with 10 minutes to go, but Javi Galan’s last-ditch block denied him. Alexander-Arnold curled a free-kick wide as Madrid pressed for a winner. Yet, it was Osasuna who would have the final say in a moment that will live long in Pamplona folklore.
In the 90th minute, Raul Garcia collected the ball near the edge of the box, cut inside past the sliding Raul Asencio, and unleashed a clinical finish across Courtois into the far corner. El Sadar erupted as Garcia wheeled away in celebration, though the drama was not quite done. The assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside, but VAR intervened once more, confirming Garcia was onside. The goal stood, sealing Osasuna’s first league victory over Real Madrid since 2011. "It's an incredible feeling... I think (that fact) is crazy. The fans deserved a victory like this after so many years," Garcia told DAZN. "When I saw (Asencio) coming I knew he was going to go to ground and after that I stayed calm to swerve him and was able to score."
With the final whistle, Osasuna’s players and fans celebrated a famous win that not only cements their resurgence under pressure but also throws the La Liga title race wide open. Real Madrid’s slip means Barcelona, trailing by two points with a game in hand, can leapfrog them at the top of the table by beating Levante at Camp Nou on Sunday. The pressure now swings to Xavi’s side, as Madrid must regroup ahead of their crucial Champions League showdown with Benfica.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Real Sociedad and Real Oviedo played out a wild 3-3 draw at Anoeta, while Real Betis’s 1-1 stalemate with Rayo Vallecano could impact the race for Champions League qualification. But all eyes remain on the title fight, where Osasuna’s dramatic triumph has changed the landscape in a single, unforgettable evening.
For Real Madrid, the loss is a bitter pill after only holding the top spot for a week. For Osasuna and their jubilant supporters, it’s a night to savor—a reminder that, in football, anything is possible when belief and opportunity collide.