Osasuna Stuns Real Madrid in La Liga Clash: Raúl García’s Late Goal Seals Victory

Pamplona – Osasuna defeated La Liga leaders Real Madrid 2-1 in a dramatic match at Estadio El Sadar on February 21, 2026, fueled by a stoppage-time winner from Raúl García. The result leaves Real Madrid just two points ahead of Barcelona, who have a chance to move into first place when they face Levante on Sunday.

Match Highlights

Ante Budimir opened the scoring for Osasuna in the 38th minute, converting a penalty awarded after a controversial decision. Real Madrid equalized through Vinícius Júnior in the 73rd minute, but the comeback was short-lived. García’s goal, initially flagged for offside but overturned by VAR, secured a memorable victory for the home side.

Controversial Penalty Decision

The awarding of the penalty to Osasuna proved to be a pivotal moment in the match. Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, was penalized for a challenge on Budimir, a decision that sparked debate. Sports Illustrated noted the penalty was a “harsh call” but acknowledged Courtois took a risk coming off his line.

Courtois’ Penalty Record Under Scrutiny

The defeat also brought renewed attention to Thibaut Courtois’ record in saving penalties. According to statistician MisterChip, Courtois has faced 37 penalties in La Liga, conceding 31 goals (84%), with 5 saves (13%) and 1 wide. This places him 66th in the La Liga rankings for penalty save percentage among goalkeepers who have faced at least 20 penalties. Yahoo Sports highlighted this as a consistent “weakness” in his game.

Player Performances

Vinícius Júnior was a standout performer for Real Madrid, creating danger and scoring their equalizing goal. Fede Valverde also impressed, driving through the lines and providing the assist for Vinícius’ goal, with the team’s performance noticeably declining after his substitution. However, other Real Madrid players struggled, including Kylian Mbappé, who had a poor finishing performance, and Dani Carvajal, who was consistently beaten by Víctor Muñoz.

Looking Ahead

Real Madrid will need to regroup quickly as they aim to maintain their position at the top of La Liga. Barcelona’s upcoming match against Levante presents an opportunity for them to overtake Real Madrid, setting up a tense title race. Osasuna’s victory will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they continue their season.