Villarreal Triumphs Over Osasuna in High-Scoring La Liga Clash

VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) — Villarreal CF faced CA Osasuna on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in an exciting La Liga match at El Madrigal Stadium, ending with Villarreal winning 4-2.

The game started with Villarreal quickly taking control, as Ayoze Pérez scored the opening goal only two minutes in with a left-footed shot, assisted by Dani Parejo. Villarreal continued to dominate the first half, extending their lead to 2-0 in the 33rd minute when Thierno Barry found the net with a right-footed shot.

Pérez struck again just before half-time, scoring in the 39th minute to put Villarreal ahead 3-0. Osasuna didn’t give up, managing to pull one back in the second half when Rubén García scored in the 66th minute, following a pass from Ante Budimir.

The match took a turn in the 77th minute, when Osasuna was awarded a penalty after Sergi Cardona fouled an opponent in the box. Aimar Oroz successfully converted the penalty in the 81st minute, making the score 4-2.

Despite Osasuna’s late surge, Villarreal held on for the victory, marking their fifth unbeaten result in the last six league matches. With this win, Villarreal moved to fifth place in La Liga with 55 points from 33 matches.

Osasuna remains in contention for European competition but is facing challenges, sitting in eighth place with 44 points. Their away performances have raised concerns, as they have only won once in their last 11 away league games. The match saw a total of four yellow cards, with Villarreal’s Álex Baena, Tajon Buchanan, and Santi Comesaña, along with Osasuna’s Oroz, all cautioned.

Villarreal’s impressive attacking record, with 56 goals in 33 matches, places them third in offensive performance in La Liga this season. The team’s ability to score early and maintain pressure has been crucial in their recent form. Historically, Villarreal has also enjoyed success against Osasuna, going unbeaten in their last five meetings.

Looking ahead, Villarreal must maintain their home advantage as they vie for a Champions League spot. With five rounds left in the season, each match is vital. Osasuna, meanwhile, needs to recover quickly to secure their chance at European qualification.