Osasuna stuns Atleti to boost European dream
Osasuna secured a surprise 2-0 home win over Atletico Madrid in LaLiga as header from Alejandro Catena and Ante Budimir boosted its European hopes.
Atletico had already secured Champions League qualification for 2025-2026 with a 4-0 rout of Real Sociedad on Sunday, while Osasuna were looking to close the gap to Rayo Vallecano in eighth – a position that will be enough to secure Conference League football.
Defender Catena headed a Bryan Zaragoza corner past the rooted Jan Oblak to put the host in front in the 25th minute, between two costly misses from Atleti's Alexander Sorloth.
Diego Simeone's visitor continued to dominate possession as it sought a way back into the contest, but after a scrappy passage of play in midfield, Budimir got across his marker to convert Kike Barja's cross with a fine diving header eight minutes from time.
The result saw Osasuna leapfrog Mallorca to go ninth in the table, after the latter's last-gasp defeat to Real Madrid.
Vicente Moreno's Osasuna is only outside the top eight on goal difference, sitting a single goal behind Rayo Vallecano with two games remaining.
Vallecano squandered a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw with Real Betis elsewhere, as its own Conference League hopes took a blow.
Jorge de Frutos scored Vallecano's opener, pouncing on the rebound after Pedro Diaz struck the crossbar from 35 yards out, then Florian Lejeune put them two up with a low free-kick from the left corner of the box.
However, Cucho Hernandez slid a neat finish inside the near post to get Betis back into the contest, then Isco's 61st-minute penalty got the visitors level, with Vallecano missing several chances for a winner late on.
