Athletic Club edge past Osasuna to revive hopes in race for Europe

[p]Though the hosts were still in European contention ahead of tonight’s action, a run of four defeats from their past five LaLiga games had done their chances no favours. However, fellow contenders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/osasuna/ETdxjU8a/"]Osasuna[/a] had won just one of their past six themselves, and the visitors were distinctly second-best throughout the first half.[/p][p]Los Leones were hardly at their best, either, but after having a fourth-minute penalty following [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torro-lucas/6y9ES72S/"]Lucas Torro[/a]’s handball rescinded, they broke the deadlock around the quarter-hour mark.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/williams-nico/Cp7lcVjJ/"]Nico Williams[/a] was involved, forcing a save out of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/herrera-sergio/YDyOrTQO/"]Sergio Herrera[/a] before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guruzeta-gorka/bTKd7PI5/"]Gorka Guruzeta[/a] buried the rebound.[/b][/p][embed guid="35f44aca-6d67-4afa-a315-3088e7310add" url="https://x.com/LaLigaEN/status/2046645468487143719" social-type="twitter" /][p]Chances were subsequently few and far between prior to the interval, although [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/berenguer-alejandro/nuQn903r/"]Alex Berenguer[/a] almost found the bottom corner with a low drive from inside the area as half-time beckoned.[/p][p]The interval gave Osasuna head coach Alessio Lisci the chance to talk to his players, and whatever he said to them appeared to have an effect.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/budimir-ante/IeVXGQOi/"]Ante Budimir[/a] had his side’s best chance of the game so far within five minutes of the restart, directing an overhead kick wide of the post.[/p][p]Shortly after, Osasuna were awarded a penalty of their own when Yerry Alvarez handled [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/boyomos-flavien-enzo/G6IFcpHK/"]Flavien Boyomo[/a]’s flick towards goal. This one did not go to a VAR review, yet Budimir could not convert from 12 yards, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simon-unai/Ao9Vw3hi/"]Unai Simon[/a] kept out his admittedly poor effort before gathering the ball at the second attempt.[/p][p]Ultimately, Osasuna provided far too little in the way of final-third threat, although Simon did need to produce a strong save to push Budimir’s header onto the post and conserve his side’s advantage.[/p][p]Unable to find a late response – despite a dismissal for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ath-bilbao/IP5zl0cJ/"]Athletic[/a]’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jauregizar-mikel/hOdEyz15/"]Mikel Jauregizar[/a] at the start of eight minutes’ added time – Los Rojillos’ poor run of form continues, and the result also sees them drop below Athletic into 10th, dealing a blow to their own continental hopes.[/p][p]The hosts, meanwhile, will believe they can secure a European spot, although they face a difficult challenge up next in the form of a trip to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atlético Madrid[/a].[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guruzeta-gorka/bTKd7PI5/"]Gorka Guruzeta[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ath-bilbao/IP5zl0cJ/"]Athletic Club[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ath-bilbao-IP5zl0cJ/osasuna-ETdxjU8a/?mid=2JLSaghT"]Click here for more on the match[/a][/b][/p][image alt="The race for sixth in LaLiga" id="f58f0cd1-ebd8-4761-ae42-8ff93066e15b" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="788f4db5-5f93-4529-b521-87bcfaf0741d" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /]