Villarreal came from behind to beat Osasuna 2-1 and move into La Liga’s top three, overtaking Athletic Bilbao, who suffered their third straight defeat with a 2-0 loss in Valencia. Barcelona and Espanyol remain level on points, while Real Madrid stay top with a perfect record.
Villarreal climbed into the La Liga podium this Saturday after staging a spirited comeback to defeat Osasuna 2-1 at the Estadio de la Cerámica in Matchday 5 of the 2025/26 season.
The win not only boosted morale for the Yellow Submarine but also allowed them to leapfrog Athletic Bilbao, who slipped up in Valencia and endured a 2-0 defeat their third consecutive loss in all competitions.
The match in Villarreal began with plenty of tension, as Osasuna came determined to frustrate the home side. The breakthrough came early in the second half when Croatian striker Ante Budimir calmly slotted home a penalty in the 51st minute, putting the visitors ahead and silencing the home crowd. Villarreal, who had looked unsettled after their midweek Champions League defeat to Tottenham, suddenly seemed on the ropes.
But the tide turned dramatically in the final 20 minutes. Georgian forward Georges Mikautadze, a summer signing brought in to strengthen Villarreal’s attacking depth, made his mark in style. On his debut, he struck in the 69th minute to restore parity, latching onto a clever through ball and finishing clinically. It was a moment of relief for both the player and the fans, confirming why the club had invested in his talent. The comeback was completed in the 85th minute when Pape Gueye, the Franco-Senegalese midfielder, found space on the edge of the box and powered home the winner. Portuguese international Renato Veiga, introduced in the 67th minute, played an important role in stabilizing the defense and helping Villarreal hold firm after overturning the deficit.
For Villarreal, this result was significant beyond the three points. Coming just days after a narrow 1-0 loss away to Tottenham in the opening round of the Champions League league phase, it demonstrated the resilience of Marcelino’s side. The victory propelled Villarreal up to third place in the league table with 10 points, level with defending champions Barcelona and Espanyol. Barcelona still have a game in hand against Getafe on Sunday, while Espanyol lost earlier in the day 2-0 against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real’s win, thanks to goals from Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, kept them clear at the top as the only side with a perfect record.
Just below the podium, three sides are tightly packed with nine points: Real Betis, who already played an extra game and defeated Real Sociedad 3-1 on Friday; Getafe, who face Barcelona next; and Athletic Bilbao, who continue their slide after another disappointing result. The Basques, who had been flying high at the start of the campaign, now find themselves questioning their form after back-to-back defeats in La Liga and a damaging home loss to Arsenal in the Champions League.
In Valencia, Athletic were undone by their own indiscipline. Defender Daniel Vivian was sent off in the 63rd minute, leaving his teammates exposed against a side that had grown in confidence as the game progressed. Valencia capitalized almost immediately, with new signing Baptiste Santamaría a French midfielder recently acquired in the transfer window opening his account for the club in the 73rd minute. Substitute Hugo Duro added the second deep into stoppage time, sending Mestalla into celebration and condemning Bilbao to another frustrating evening.
Athletic remain seventh in the standings, but the gap to their pursuers is shrinking fast. Valencia, with this victory, climbed to 10th place, now level on seven points with Sevilla and Alavés. Portuguese midfielder André Almeida came off the bench in the 80th minute for Valencia, while compatriot Thierry Correia stayed unused among the substitutes.
Meanwhile, Sevilla enjoyed a much-needed victory on the road, edging Alavés 2-1. The Andalusians, still awaiting the debut of Portuguese defender Fábio Cardoso, found their goals through Rubén Vargas and veteran forward Alexis Sánchez. The Chilean, who returned to La Liga after over a decade away, marked his comeback with a decisive strike. It was his first top-flight Spanish goal since leaving Barcelona more than 11 years ago, and it came at a crucial moment. Alavés had briefly equalized through Carlos Vicente from the penalty spot, but Sánchez’s late intervention secured the points for Sevilla, who are beginning to find rhythm after a rocky start.
The overall picture in La Liga is already shaping up to be intriguing. Real Madrid’s perfect run has set the early pace, but with Barcelona, Villarreal, and Espanyol tied just behind, the race for the top remains tight. Villarreal’s resilience against Osasuna could prove pivotal in building confidence for the challenges ahead, both domestically and in Europe. For Athletic Bilbao, however, alarm bells are ringing three straight defeats across competitions have raised doubts about consistency, squad depth, and their ability to balance Champions League commitments with their domestic campaign.
As the season heads into its next phase, all eyes will be on whether Villarreal can sustain their momentum and whether Bilbao can arrest their slide. The weekend’s results have added new layers of drama to the La Liga table, with the competition already proving unpredictable and fiercely contested.
