Osasuna wastes Villarreal’s crisis and Oviedo wins again after four months

CA Osasuna has drawn (2-2) at home against Villarreal CF, without the Rojillos taking advantage of their opponent’s crisis, while bottom team Real Oviedo has achieved its first victory in four months thanks to its 1-0 against Girona FC, in matches corresponding to matchday 22 of LaLiga EA Sports.

This Saturday’s round began at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium, where the thick first half was shaken with a goal disallowed for Girona in the 42nd minute because the ball had gone out of the backfield before Iván Martín finished off. Immediately afterwards came the Oviedo response, with a header from Ilyas Chaira into the hands of Marc-André ter Stegen after a dead ball action.

After the break there was boredom until Santi Cazorla, a local idol, entered the field for the last half hour. And although Thomas Lemar created danger for the visitors, the ‘carbayones’ did get it right in the 74th minute; Javi López crossed low from the left into the rival area, Thiago Fernández tamed the ball and assisted for Chaira’s easy goal.

In the heat of Girona’s search for an equalizer, Aarón Escandell made a save in added time after a foul sent directly into the area by Viktor Tsygankov; and before the conclusion, Axel Witsel headed just wide from a corner. This result left Girona with 25 points in the middle of the league table and placed Oviedo with 16.

On the other hand, at El Sadar, Gerard Moreno converted a penalty committed by Javi Galán on Nicolas Pépé after fifteen minutes. But Villarreal’s poor dynamics, as shown by their performance in the Champions League, ended up being noticeable. Not in vain, Osasuna tied in the 20th minute with a header from Víctor Muñoz after a lateral foul that Rubén García had taken.

In the extension of the first half, Rubén García himself launched an attack from the right wing and Jon Moncayola crossed into the heart of the area, where Ante Budimir dodged a rival defender to head in to make it 2-1. Upon returning from the break, the ‘Yellow Submarine’ imposed its rhythm and made it 2-2 from a corner (70′), a work by Moreno also with a header.

Although neither team gave up a bigger loot, they lacked offensive fluidity and the scoreboard no longer moved. That placed Osasuna with 26 points, behind those fighting to occupy access positions to European competitions, and placed Villarreal with 42 points, losing gas in its particular fight with Atlético de Madrid for third place.