Osasuna’s Ante Budimir Shines in Thrilling Encounter Against Oviedo

On Saturday, Osasuna and El Sadar experienced an unforgettable afternoon filled with goals, excitement, and history as Ante Budimir captured the spotlight by scoring his 80th goal for the club during his sixth season in Pamplona.

The day was momentous throughout Navarra, culminating in a dramatic late goal from Víctor Muñoz that dashed Oviedo’s hopes after they had managed to lead on two separate occasions, causing tension among the home fans.

With Jon Moncayola being the only notable absentee, Alessio Lisci’s squad approached the match as a crucial opportunity to regroup following their defeat against Girona and their cup exit at the hands of Real Sociedad. Despite holding a six-point advantage over Oviedo, relaxation was not an option.

Uruguayan forward Federico Viñas opened the scoring just five minutes shy of halftime with a magnificent header from a cross by Hassan, directing the ball powerfully into the far corner of Sergio Herrera’s net.

Budimir, determined to make his mark, quickly equalized as he deftly converted a cross from Javi Galán just before the halftime whistle, showcasing his aerial prowess and positioning.

The second half saw a more vibrant and aggressive Osasuna, with Budimir striking the crossbar with another header. However, Oviedo regained the lead due to a lapse in focus from the home side, as Alberto Reina capitalized on the situation to make it 1-2 in the 71st minute, raising alarms in El Sadar.

Although concerned expressions filled the stands, Budimir had one last trick up his sleeve. A cross from Rubén García was flicked on by Boyomo, allowing Budimir to score the equalizer, much to the delight of the crowd, marking his historic 80th goal in his 200th match for the club. Hungry for more, Budimir continued to push forward as Oviedo remained relentless in their attacking efforts.

With the match hanging in the balance, Víctor Muñoz emerged to deliver a decisive blow in stoppage time, firing a stunning shot into the top corner that left goalkeeper Aarón Escandell powerless.

The stadium erupted in applause, acknowledging Budimir’s pivotal role in Osasuna’s achievements over recent years, having scored his first goal against Atlético de Madrid in October 2020.

Reflecting on his journey, Budimir noted, “I realized that it was seven years since I arrived in Spain, around this time. My first match was against Osasuna while wearing the Mallorca jersey. Now, I am here and very happy.”

Lisci praised Budimir, stating, “Budi is Budi,” and emphasized his natural goal-scoring ability, as both of his strikes in this match were challenging to execute on the first touch.

Budimir will get another chance to add to his tally in six days when Osasuna faces Rayo Vallecano, aiming to continue his prolific scoring as he approaches 35 years of age, with the World Cup on the horizon.