Real Madrid eventually found two late goals to break Osasuna’s fierce resistance and go within five points of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 away victory on Saturday night.
The home side managed to frustrate the Spanish champions until the 78th minute, when Federico Valverde arrived in the box to slide in Vinicius Junior’s cross.
Vinicius had a strike chalked off for offside before Marco Asensio sealed the win, finishing from close range after Real won the ball high up the pitch.
Los Blancos’ best chance of the first half fell to Vinicius after a poor back pass from Jon Moncayola, but his effort was smothered by Sergio Herrera.
Osasuna did try to get shots away and went close through Ante Budimir, but the Croatian’s strike from the edge of the box missed the target.
Vinicius and compatriot Rodrygo looked electric in attack, with the latter curling just wide of the far corner before Vinicius saw the first of two goals disallowed for offside.
Moi Gomez hit the post after beating Valverde and Moncayola sent an ambitious volley only slightly off target as Osasuna sniffed an upset in the second half.
However, their defence gave up chances too easily and were lucky not to be punished when Vinicius was denied by onrushing goalie Herrera following another blunder in the Osasuna backline.
They wouldn’t be so lucky moments later as Vinicius ran down the wing and centred to Valverde, who timed his run perfectly to divert the ball into the far corner.
Osasuna unsuccessfully begged for handball and a penalty when Abde Ezzalzouli’s cross hit Dani Carvajal before Vinicius was again denied by the offside flag.
Real eventually got their second when 18-year-old substitute Alvaro Rodriguez won possession high up the pitch and fed Asensio to put Real 2-0 up ahead of rivals Barcelona’s clash with Cadiz on Sunday.
GK: Herrera (5); RB: Moncayola (5), CB: U. Garcia (4), CB: D. Garcia (6), LB: Sanchez (6); CM: Gomez (6), CM: Torro (6); RW: R. Garcia (6), AM: Brasanac (5), LW: Ezzalzouli (5); ST: Budimir (6)
Subs: Moreno (5), Oroz (5), Barja (N/A), Kike (N/A)
GK: Courtois (8); RB: Nacho (8), CB: Militao (7), CB: Rudiger (7), LB: Alaba (7); CM: Modric (7), CM: Camavinga (8); CM: Ceballos (7); RW: Valverde (8), ST: Rodrygo (6); ST: Vinicius (8)
Subs: Asensio (8), Carvajal (6), Rodriguez (7).
Player of the match – Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
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Credit: 90min.com
