It was a night to remember in Pamplona as Osasuna stunned the football world with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at Estadio El Sadar, ending the visitors’ eight-game La Liga winning streak and rewriting a piece of club history that had stood for 15 years. The 25th round of the 2025-26 Spanish La Liga season, held in the early hours of February 22, 2026, saw a resilient Osasuna side outlast the star-studded Madridistas thanks to a late winner that sent the home crowd into raptures.
Heading into the match, Real Madrid looked every bit the favorites. They were riding high on an eight-game league winning streak and searching for their ninth consecutive victory. Manager Xabi Alonso, determined to maintain momentum, fielded a formidable 4-4-2 lineup featuring attacking juggernauts Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe up front. The midfield was anchored by Camavinga, Tchouameni, Guler, and Valverde, while the back line included Alvaro Fernandez, David Alaba, Marco Asensio, Dani Carvajal, and the ever-reliable Thibaut Courtois in goal.
Osasuna, however, had their own plans. Coach Jagoba Arrasate set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which morphed into a compact 4-4-2 when defending. The likes of Budimir, Munoz, Oroz, Garcia, Toro, Moncayola, Galan, Hernando, Catena, and Rojier, with Herrera in goal, made up a team determined to frustrate their illustrious guests. From the opening whistle, Osasuna’s defensive discipline was evident. They closed down spaces, kept their lines tight, and denied Real Madrid the kind of room their attacking stars thrive on.
Osasuna’s first real threat came in the 24th minute when Garcia’s cross deflected off Fernandez, forcing Courtois into a sharp save. Four minutes later, Munoz whipped in another cross, and Budimir’s header rattled the woodwork—an early warning sign that the home side meant business. The breakthrough arrived in the 33rd minute, but not without controversy. Budimir, making a darting run, collided with Courtois in the box and went down. The referee initially booked Budimir for simulation, but after a tense VAR review, the decision was overturned and a penalty was awarded. Budimir, showing nerves of steel, converted from the spot to put Osasuna 1-0 up.
Real Madrid, stung by the setback, tried to mount a response but found themselves repeatedly repelled by Osasuna’s organized back line. The visitors struggled to carve out clear chances, and when they did, their finishing let them down. Guler fired a powerful shot just wide early in the second half, while Vinicius and Mbappe both saw promising opportunities snuffed out by the home side’s defenders.
Alonso shuffled his pack in the 64th minute, bringing on Diaz and Arnold for Camavinga and Carvajal in search of a spark. The changes almost paid immediate dividends. Arnold pinged a perfect long pass to Vinicius, whose shot was blocked by a desperate lunge from the Osasuna defense. Then, in the 70th minute, Mbappe thought he’d leveled the score after latching onto a through ball and finishing coolly, but the assistant’s flag went up for offside, and the goal was chalked off.
Madrid’s persistence finally paid off in the 72nd minute. Valverde surged down the left flank and whipped in a low cross that found Vinicius, who made no mistake from close range. The equalizer seemed to set the stage for a late Real Madrid winner, as the visitors pressed forward relentlessly. Arnold had a golden opportunity from a free kick in the 88th minute, but his effort sailed just over the bar, leaving Madrid fans with their heads in their hands.
But football, as ever, had one final twist in store. In stoppage time, Garcia timed his run to perfection, breaking the offside trap and collecting a clever pass. He coolly sidestepped Asensio’s desperate challenge and curled his shot past Courtois, sending the home fans into delirium. The goal not only secured all three points for Osasuna but also marked their first victory over Real Madrid since 2011—a 15-year drought finally broken.
For Osasuna, this was more than just a win; it was a statement. Their tactical discipline, defensive grit, and opportunistic finishing proved too much for a Madrid side stacked with global superstars. The result will be celebrated in Pamplona for years to come, as it halted one of Spain’s most formidable teams and showcased the underdog spirit that makes La Liga so compelling.
Meanwhile, the result has left Real Madrid with plenty to ponder. Their winning run is over, and questions will be asked about their inability to break down a well-organized defense. Despite boasting the likes of Mbappe and Vinicius, Madrid struggled to create clear-cut chances, and their vulnerability on the counter was exposed at the worst possible moment. With the title race heating up and rivals eager to capitalize, Alonso’s men will need to regroup quickly if they are to maintain their challenge at the top of the table.
Elsewhere in the Spanish capital, off-pitch developments are gathering pace. Reports from Tribuna and Spanish daily AS suggest that Real Madrid are targeting Borussia Dortmund’s German center-back Nico Schlotterbeck in the upcoming summer transfer window. The 25-year-old, valued at around 50 million euros, is seen as a long-term successor to Mats Hummels and has established himself as a leader at Dortmund. While Barcelona are also in the hunt for Schlotterbeck’s signature, their financial constraints may give Real Madrid the upper hand in negotiations. The German defender’s contract runs until June 2027, but he is said to be reluctant to extend his stay in Germany, making a high-profile move more likely.
Adding another layer to Madrid’s evolving squad dynamics is the story of Endrick, the 19-year-old Brazilian forward currently on loan at Lyon. After struggling for minutes at Real due to fierce competition and an untimely hamstring injury, Endrick has exploded onto the scene in France. He’s netted five goals and provided two assists in just six appearances, earning man of the match honors on his debut and clinching Ligue 1’s Player of the Month award. Lyon, riding a 13-game winning streak and sitting third in the league, have benefited immensely from Endrick’s arrival. The loan deal, which contains no purchase option, is all about player development—Real Madrid will reassess his future this summer, weighing whether the young striker is ready to compete for a starting spot amid a galaxy of stars.
With Osasuna’s historic win, Real Madrid’s transfer ambitions, and the meteoric rise of Endrick at Lyon, it’s clear that the Spanish giants are at a fascinating crossroads. The coming weeks promise plenty of drama, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, as the club navigates the challenges of squad renewal and the relentless pursuit of silverware.