Osasuna falls at Girona, 1-0

Forward Vladyslav Vanat’s goal on the stroke of halftime lifted the hosts past an Osasuna side that had chances to equalize

Osasuna (5-4-10, 19 points) fell 1-0 on the road at Girona CF (5-6-8, 21 points) in a match decided by forward Vladyslav Vanat’s goal one minute before halftime. The visitors created chances in both halves butwere unable to beat goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Osasuna started brightly, taking the initiative and producing the first clear looks. In the fifth minute, defender Javi Galán led a sharp counterattack and picked out midfielder Jon Moncayola in the box, but the No. 7’s effort from the back post was blocked by a defender. Minutes later, Galán delivered a left-footed cross with the outside of his boot and forward Ante Budimir nearly opened the scoring, heading just over the bar.

Midway through the first half, Girona’s forward Viktor Tsygankov threatened with a direct free kick from the edge of the area that skimmed past the post. Before the break, forward Víctor Muñoz and Budimir both went close from inside the box, but neither could get past Gazzaniga. In the 44th minute, Vanat put the hosts ahead with a close-range finish.

The side coached by Alessio Lisci pushed for an equalizer after the restart and managed to apply pressure around the opposition area. In the 57th minute, midfielder Rubén García struck the crossbar with a long-range effort. Five minutes later, a second goal by Vanat was ruled out for offside. García went close again with a free kick from the edge of the area that shaved the bar, and Osasuna pressed until the final whistle. Midfielder Lucas Torró had the equalizer late on, but his header from inside the box went wide.

Osasuna’s next match is on the road against Real Sociedad on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 9 p.m., in the Copa del Rey round of 16.