For the first time since finishing fourth back in 2005/06, Osasuna began matchday 13 with 20+ points, and the in-form side were soon on course for another three here. Inside 10 minutes, Chimy Ávila arrowed a shot from the edge of the box, beating a frustrated Agustín Marchesín - marking the fifth La Liga game in which he has scored before the break.
To their credit, Celta responded well, and after several near-misses, Los Celestes netted their first goal under new boss Carlos Carvalhal. Iago Aspas controlled well from Franco Cervi’s pull-back, before firing in off the underside of the crossbar to level the contest. However, within 10 minutes, Osasuna restored their lead as Ávila bagged his second of the game. A somewhat hopeful lofted ball from Manu Sánchez found the unmarked Argentine, who thundered a header into the ground from just inside the area, beyond Marchesín’s reach.
Despite edging possession, the hosts were finding further clear-cut openings hard to come by, and a second equaliser was beginning to look beyond them. Los Rojillos were successfully stifling Celta’s fluency, while probing for their potentially match-defining third goal, yet that all appeared to be in vain when referee Jorge Figueroa Vázquez awarded a penalty to Los Celestes. Thankfully for the visitors, VAR intervened to suggest that David García had not illegally handled the ball, keeping Osasuna in front as time ticked away.
Ultimately, Jagoba Arrasate’s side did enough to hang onto their lead, ending a run of three matches without victory on the road, albeit while conceding before HT in each of their last four. As for Celta, Aspas remains the only player in their squad to score in any of their four most recent H2Hs, as their worrying form continues, having now failed to claim victory in any of their last six La Liga outings.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Chimy Ávila (Osasuna)
