Osasuna stunned Champions League qualifiers Sevilla 2-1 in the opening match of the new Liga season on Friday. Argentine striker Ezequiel ‘Chimy’ Avila gave Osasuna a ninth-minute lead. However, the advantage lasted just two minutes before Rafa Mir made the most of a fine pass from another Argentine, Papu Gomez to equalise. Sevilla finished last season in the fourth spot in La Liga, 27 points ahead of Osasuna in 10th.9 – @caosasuna_en started winning against @SevillaFC_ENG for the ninth time in @LaLigaEN in the 21st century and they just lost once (W6 D1), the most recent one in January 2017 (3-4 loss also at El Sadar). Emotion. pic.twitter.com/tWhmIjJKZN— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 12, 2022 But the underdogs were not overawed and grabbed a 74th-minute winner from the penalty spot courtesy of Aimar Oroz. Sevilla lost centre-backs Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos to Barcelona and Aston Villa respectively in the summer. On Friday, they were also without veteran striker Isco who arrived on a free transfer from Real Madrid but wasn’t considered ready to make the match-day squad.
Everything could have been different if, in the 39th minute, Thomas Delaney’s shot ended up in Sergio Herrera’s net instead of on the goal post, but that didn’t happen and it entered a dramatic second half, which was broken in the aforementioned 74th minute. Del Cerro Grande was quite convinced of what he saw, he didn’t want to change his decision, so Aymar took charge. Bono had that ball, which went in the middle of the goal, right on his foot. He managed to hook it, but nothing more, so the home team reached a capital advantage.
© Agence France-PresseFridayOsasuna – Sevilla 2-1 (1-1)/Avila 9, Aimar 74 pen – Mir 11/Saturday18.00: (1.95) Celta (3.50) Espanyol (4.40)20.00: (4.10) Valladolid (3.50) Villareal (2.00)22.00: (1.20) Barcelona (7.75) Rayo Vallecano (16.0)Sunday18.30: (3.60) Cadiz (3.15) Sociedad (2.30)20.30: (1.90) Valencia (3.50) Girona (4.60)23.00: (8.50) Almeria (4.80) Real Madrid (1.42)Monday18.30: (1.65) Ath.Bilbao (3.60) Mallorca (6.75)20.30: (4.70) Getafe (3.30) Atl.Madrid (1.95)22.30: (1.48) Betis (4.40) Elche (8.00)***odds are subject to change