Osasuna ended Barcelona’s perfect start to the La Liga season with a commanding 4-2 win on Saturday.
Barcelona, who had won all seven of their opening matches, struggled in Pamplona as a rotated side under Hansi Flick came undone. Ante Budimir scored twice, with Bryan Zaragoza adding another, as Osasuna capitalized on Barca’s defensive frailties.
Pau Victor briefly gave Barcelona hope, pulling a goal back before Budimir netted his second from the penalty spot. Abel Bretones then sealed the win with a stunning strike from the edge of the box, though Lamine Yamal responded with a fine goal of his own late on.
Victory would have equaled Barcelona’s best-ever start to a La Liga season with eight consecutive wins, but they failed to extend their lead over second-placed Real Madrid.
“There are no excuses for the rotations, we have a lot of games to play,” Barcelona midfielder Pedri told Movistar. “In the second half, we deserved more, but we conceded when we were playing our best.”
Ahead of their Champions League clash with Young Boys on Tuesday, Flick rotated his squad, starting Gerard Martin, Sergi Dominguez, Pablo Torre, and Victor while resting key players like Yamal and Raphinha. This reshuffle led to a sluggish first half from Barcelona, allowing Zaragoza to dominate.
Zaragoza, who shone for Granada last season in a 2-2 draw against Barcelona, was on loan from Bayern Munich. He set up the first goal with a precise cross that Budimir headed in after 18 minutes and scored the second himself, rounding goalkeeper Inaki Pena after a smart run.
Barcelona’s protests about a foul on Victor in the build-up were dismissed, and the league leaders struggled to create clear chances, with Ferran Torres squandering their best opportunity.
At halftime, Flick introduced Yamal, Raphinha, and Ansu Fati to spark a comeback. Moments later, Victor capitalized on a poor throw from Osasuna’s goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, bringing Barca back into the game with a long-range effort that Herrera misjudged.
Despite Barcelona’s efforts, Osasuna restored their lead when Dominguez fouled Budimir in the box, and the Croatian striker converted the penalty. Bretones added a fourth with a powerful shot from distance before Yamal’s late goal and Torres hitting the post.
Osasuna’s victory lifts them to sixth, and Zaragoza reflected on the win, saying, “We knew Barcelona were an incredible team, but we went out there determined to give it everything, and it was a special game to be part of.”