Osasuna deepen Sevilla's relegation worries in five-goal thriller
Osasuna were ahead in the 18th minute as the menacing Garcia rose majestically between Pape Gueye and Nemanja Gudelj to authoritatively head home Kike Barja’s inswinging corner.
Not content with a slender advantage on the scoresheet, Jagoba Arrasate’s side thought they had doubled their lead four minutes later, only for VAR to intervene and rule out Barja’s close-range strike due to an offside in the build-up.
On the back of progressing to the last of 16 of the Europa League, despite losing 2-0 against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday, Sevilla were close to equalising within the opening three minutes of the second half, only for Fernandez to somehow keep out Youssef En-Nesyri’s close-range header.
Sevilla were level in the 63rd minute when Gudelj let loose a spectacular long-range strike that flew past Fernandez. Nonetheless, Osasuna did not let their heads drop and were fortuitously back ahead five minutes later as Bounou’s mistimed punch struck Fernando in the back.
After hitting the outside of the post eight minutes earlier, there was no stopping En-Nesyri from bringing Sevilla back level, as the Moroccan international fired into the bottom corner.
However, Osasuna had the final laugh as second-half substitute Abde Ezzalzouli clinically fired beyond the grasp of Bounou to move Los Rojillos to within one point of high-flying Rayo Vallecano.
Meanwhile, Sevilla remain only two points above the relegation zone after suffering their first home league defeat since November 9.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kike Barja (Osasuna)