Osasuna 1-1 Villarreal - Osasuna ensure top-flight status

Posted Saturday, May 21, 2011 by PA

Osasuna ensured they will be playing Primera Division football again next season after defeating fourth-placed Villarreal 1-0 at the Reyno de Navarra stadium.

The Pamplona-based club, who started the final day of the season just a point above the bottom three and one of six sides threatened with the drop, earned the victory thanks to Alvaro Cejudo's brilliant goal just before half-time.

The result means Osasuna finish the campaign in a remarkable ninth spot despite beginning the game in serious relegation trouble, while Villarreal were already guaranteed to finish fourth no matter what happened tonight.

Osasuna are no strangers to surviving relegation battles having finished just a point above the bottom three in 2008 and 2009, and they looked determined right from the outset tonight to ensure it would be another successful escape this season.

Cejudo tried his luck early on before Walter Pandiani brought a fine save out of Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the seventh minute.

Javad Nekounam and Javier Camunas then went close for the hosts before Lopez was called into action again to superbly deny Kike Sola.

At the other end, Osasuna goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez did well to keep out Giuseppe Rossi's effort before the home side took the lead in the 43rd minute.

There appeared little danger as Cejudo chested a high ball down 25 yards out with his back to goal, but he spun on the spot and drilled a low shot past Lopez diving to his right.

That was a fantastic strike and it proved to be the match-winner with Villarreal unable to fashion an equaliser after the break and Osasuna not needing to take any huge risks.