Ante Budimir Strikes Late as Osasuna Hold Real Betis to a 1-1 Draw
Real Betis vs Osasuna : Osasuna ended a disappointing run of six consecutive away defeats with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Real Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, thanks to a late equaliser from in-form striker Ante Budimir.
First Half: A Tactical Battle With Few Clear Chances
Following their midweek European fixtures, Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini rotated his squad, disrupting the home side’s early rhythm. Osasuna capitalised on the lack of cohesion and grew into the contest, showing more attacking intent.
The first clear-cut opportunity of the match fell to the visitors when a free kick was lofted into the box. Ante Budimir latched onto the loose ball with a close-range header, but his effort lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Betis goalkeeper Adrián.
As the first half progressed, Betis began to find their groove, delivering a series of dangerous crosses that kept the Osasuna backline on their toes. Giovani Lo Celso had a half-chance with a curled shot from outside the box, but it was easily saved by Sergio Herrera.
Second Half: Isco Inspires Betis, But Budimir Has the Final Say
The game sprang into life after the break. Osasuna nearly opened the scoring when Bryan Zaragoza was played through one-on-one with Adrián, but he could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
Sensing the urgency, Pellegrini brought on key players Isco and Antony to reinvigorate the Betis attack. The change paid off just past the hour mark. Isco showcased his creative brilliance by lifting a delicate cross into the box, where substitute Cucho Hernández guided a well-placed header into the far corner to make it 1-0.
Betis looked set to seal all three points as they dominated possession and created chances. However, Osasuna refused to surrender. In the 75th minute, a hopeful cross found its way to Budimir at the far post, and the Croatian striker hammered the ball into the back of the net to level the score.
Late Drama: Osasuna Nearly Steal It
The visitors nearly completed a stunning turnaround shortly after the equaliser. Substitute Raúl García rose highest to meet a cross and sent a powerful header goalward, only to see it bounce off the crossbar, denying Osasuna what would have been a famous victory.
What This Result Means for Both Sides
The 1-1 draw leaves both teams with mixed emotions. Real Betis, who are chasing a top-five finish and a potential Champions League spot, now sit three points adrift of the top five. Meanwhile, Osasuna stay in 11th position, two points behind the final European qualification place.
Despite the draw, Osasuna will take confidence from this result, ending a poor away streak and proving they can compete with higher-ranked sides. For Betis, it’s another frustrating evening as they drop valuable points at home.
Read More..