Bryan Zaragoza played a pivotal role in Osasuna’s remarkable 4-2 victory over Barcelona on Saturday, handing the Spanish league leaders their first defeat of the season. The forward, on loan from Bayern Munich, assisted Ante Budimir’s opening goal in the 17th minute before scoring himself in the 28th minute, skillfully dribbling around goalkeeper Iñaki Peña.
Barcelona, which had fielded three youth players, saw one of them, Pau Víctor, reduce the deficit early in the second half with a goal in the 53rd minute. However, Budimir’s penalty, earned and converted in the 72nd minute, effectively sealed the match for Osasuna. Abel Bretones added a fourth for Osasuna in the 85th minute, while Barcelona’s substitute Lamine Yamal netted a late goal.
Barcelona, who had won their first seven matches, was looking to achieve an eighth victory to match a club record set in 2013. Their recent loss followed a 2-1 defeat to Monaco in their Champions League opener last week. “It hurts. We wanted to make it eight of eight, but we didn’t play our best game,” said Barcelona forward Ferran Torres.
Despite the loss, Barcelona retains its top position in the league, maintaining a four-point lead over Real Madrid, who are set to face Atletico Madrid in a derby match on Sunday. Meanwhile, Osasuna climbed to sixth place, remaining unbeaten at home with four wins and a draw this season.
Zaragoza’s stunning performance started with an incisive cross from the left corner that Budimir converted with a powerful header. He then showcased his skills on a quick break, deftly maneuvering past Peña to score. “We had to go out there to bite,” Zaragoza remarked.
After an impressive season at Granada that saw him score 11 goals, Zaragoza was signed by Bayern Munich, but after limited playing time in Germany, he was loaned to Osasuna. His goal against Barcelona marked his return to form in La Liga.
Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick rotated his lineup for the match, starting several inexperienced players due to the demanding schedule. However, the youthful backline struggled to cope with the pressure from Osasuna. Barcelona’s Pedri González acknowledged the challenges of rotation but emphasized the need for all players to be ready.
Next up for Barcelona is a Champions League match against Young Boys on Tuesday.
In other matches, Colombia’s James Rodríguez made his first start for Rayo Vallecano, resulting in a 1-1 draw with Leganes. Real Sociedad triumphed over Valencia with a 3-0 victory, while Getafe secured a 2-0 win against Alaves at home.