García and Muñoz Fire Osasuna Past Levante
Key Takeaways
- Osasuna secured crucial 2-0 victory over Levante in relegation battle
- Víctor Muñoz and Rubén García combined for both goals perfectly
- El Sadar atmosphere lifted 17th-placed hosts against struggling visitors
- Levante's 59% possession failed to translate into meaningful chances
Rubén García orchestrated Osasuna's vital escape from the relegation zone, delivering a masterclass performance that secured a 2-0 victory over bottom-dwellers Levante at El Sadar. The veteran winger scored one and assisted another as 17th-placed Osasuna climbed away from 19th-placed Levante in a crucial six-pointer that could define both teams' seasons.
The hosts struck early and often in a devastating first-half display. Víctor Muñoz opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a perfectly placed header from the center of the box, meeting García's pinpoint cross to find the bottom left corner past Mathew Ryan. García then turned from provider to finisher in the 36th minute, collecting Jon Moncayola's assist before rifling a left-footed shot from outside the box that nestled into the center of the goal.
The tactical battle saw Levante dominate possession but struggle to penetrate Osasuna's resolute defensive structure. Enzo Boyomo and the Osasuna backline stood firm against Roger Brugué and Iván Romero's attacking thrusts, while Sergio Herrera proved reliable between the posts. The midfield duel between Jon Moncayola and Kervin Arriaga defined much of the contest's rhythm.
Despite controlling 59.2% of possession, Levante managed just five shots on target compared to Osasuna's six from their more direct approach. The visitors' 11 total shots reflected their territorial advantage, but Mathew Ryan faced the more dangerous efforts, making crucial saves to deny Víctor Muñoz twice in the second half and keeping Ante Budimir at bay on multiple occasions.
The turning point came with Jorge Cabello's 58th-minute yellow card, which disrupted Levante's rhythm during their most promising spell. Osasuna manager Vicente Moreno then made shrewd substitutions, introducing fresh legs while protecting his injured stars Lucas Torró and Aimar Oroz.
The passionate El Sadar crowd roared their approval during a nervy final 10 minutes as Carlos Álvarez forced a fine save from Herrera, but Osasuna held firm to claim three precious points that could prove pivotal in their survival bid.