Osasuna turn Celta Vigo red card disaster into vital La Liga win
Reviewed by Elison · Thu 27 Aug 2026La Liga
Celta VigoFULL-TIME
OsasunaThursday 27 August 2026 · 20:30
Our score 1-1MissedHot tip Full-time draw✗ Lost
Introduction
Osasuna claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory away at Celta Vigo in La Liga, completing a remarkable second-half turnaround that was heavily shaped by a red card for the hosts. Celta had taken the lead through Iago Aspas in the opening quarter of an hour, but Osasuna responded with clinical efficiency after the numerical advantage swung in their favour, with K. Barja and a penalty from A. Budimir turning the contest on its head. The three points represent a significant away result for Osasuna and a deeply damaging afternoon for a Celta side left to rue poor discipline at a crucial moment.
How the Game Unfolded
Celta Vigo made the perfect start when Iago Aspas, assisted by M. Roman, broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a straightforward finish. The early goal settled the home side and they carried their advantage into the latter stages of the first half with relative comfort.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to Osasuna — and the pivotal moment arrived just five minutes after the restart. Marcos Alonso was sent off in the 51st minute following a VAR card upgrade two minutes earlier, reducing Celta to ten men and fundamentally altering the dynamic of the match. Celta responded immediately by withdrawing Aspas and introducing C. Starfelt in the 52nd minute, clearly looking to reorganise defensively.
Osasuna wasted no time exploiting their advantage. Just three minutes after the red card, in the 54th minute, K. Barja drew the visitors level, with the goal assisted by R. Garcia. The momentum was now entirely with the away side, and they pushed forward in search of a winner. It duly arrived in the 64th minute when A. Budimir stepped up to convert a penalty, giving Osasuna a 2-1 lead. Celta, already a man down and now behind on the scoreboard, threw on three substitutes simultaneously in the 65th minute in a desperate attempt to find a response. Despite their efforts, they could not find a way back into the game, and Osasuna held firm to secure all three points.
The Numbers
The statistics tell a clear story of Osasuna’s dominance, particularly in attack. The visitors registered 13 total shots to Celta’s four, with five on target compared to the hosts’ two. Osasuna’s xG of 2.60 accurately reflected the danger they posed, while Celta’s figure of just 0.14 underlines how little they genuinely threatened after falling to ten men. Eight of Osasuna’s shots came from inside the box, demonstrating their intent to work in dangerous areas rather than rely on efforts from distance.
Despite the difficult circumstances of playing with ten men for nearly 40 minutes, Celta retained 52 per cent of ball possession and completed 484 of their 557 passes for an 87 per cent accuracy rate — a marginally lower completion percentage than Osasuna’s 88 per cent from 515 passes. However, possession offered Celta little in the way of genuine threat, and their goalkeeper was called upon to make two saves. Osasuna committed 16 fouls compared to Celta’s seven, a figure that contributed to the disciplinary flashpoints which ultimately decided the contest. Celta finished with one yellow and one red card; Osasuna collected a single yellow.
Conclusion
This was a game that Celta Vigo appeared to be controlling comfortably before self-inflicted wounds cost them dearly. The red card for M. Alonso proved the turning point, and Osasuna were clinical enough to punish ten-man opponents with the composure of a side that knew exactly how to win. For Celta, questions will linger around discipline and their inability to protect a lead once reduced in numbers. For Osasuna, it was a mature and well-executed away performance that yielded a thoroughly deserved three points.
