Villarreal Breaks Through the Barrier: Gueye's 85th-Minute Masterclass

Pflichttermin Futmetrix-Wertung: 100/100. A crunch match of relentless intensity where Villarreal's dominance finally overwhelmed Osasuna's ten-man heroics, but only after a dramatic final twist.

Red Card Turns the Tide at the Midway Point

Valentín Rosier's 40th-minute dismissal handed Villarreal control, yet Sergio Herrera refused to surrender. The Osasuna goalkeeper delivered six saves—a masterclass in last-ditch defending that kept his side breathing. Five minutes later, Budimir converted a penalty to give the visitors an improbable lead at the break, a moment that seemed to rewrite the entire narrative.

The Relentless Siege

Osasuna entered halftime with 66% possession and a staggering 26 shots to Osasuna's six. The intensity was suffocating. In the 69th minute, Mikautadze leveled via Solomon's assist—the substitute immediately shifting the balance. Three lead changes followed: a frenetic second half where 32 combined shots tested both defenses, where every clearance mattered, where momentum swung like a pendulum.

The Substitute Difference in the Final Gasp

When a draw seemed inevitable, Gueye arrived in the 85th minute with Oluwaseyi's assist to shatter the balance once more. Villarreal's bench proved decisive: both late-game substitutes provided assists that sealed victory. Luiz Júnior made just two saves, but his composure in managing the final onslaught proved crucial—a stark contrast to Herrera's six-save performance that kept Osasuna alive.