Osasuna welcomed Rayo Vallecano to the Estadio El Sadar on Friday looking to secure the victory that would move them out of the bottom three in the division.
It was the home side that made the best possible start when Kike Sola handed them the lead after just five minutes and it remained that way at the interval.
The second period was dominated by Rayo, but Osasuna held on to secure a vital three points in the context of their season.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Evening all! No rest for the wicked! Another La Liga set of fixtures is upon us with week 14 being kicked off on this mild evening in Spain. Osasuna will attempt to move out of the bottom three tonight, while Rayo sensationally have top four football on their minds.
Teams:
Osasuna: Fernandez; Flano, Arribas, Oier, Damia; Armenteros, Sisi, Cejudo, Nano, Loe; Sola
Rayo Vallecano: Cobeno; Tito, Galvez, Amat, Martinez; Trashorras, Fuego, Vasquez; Lass, Piti, Leo
Let's take a look at how both sides have fared thus far. Osasuna began their league season with three straight defeats before picking up a point at home to Mallorca. Defeat then followed against Real Zaragoza and they did not pick up a singular win in the league until beating Levante in late September.
A run of six games without a win in all competitions then followed, but a 3-0 win over fellow relegation candidates Espanyol provided some much-needed relief. Meanwhile, they are currently in the middle of their best form of the season.
They are unbeaten in their last four in all competitions and enter the match off the back of a 2-0 win over Sporting Gijon in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. Their only home win this season came against Levante and you just get the feeling that they need to start registering points on their own patch.
Rayo, meanwhile, are also in the middle of a solid run of form. Their season started with two wins and a draw from their first three, but a run of just one win in their next seven in all competitions threatened to harm an impressive opening.
They then won three of their next four league matches to elevate themselves into the top half of the table before picking up a 0-0 draw with Las Palmas in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. What a bonus it would be if they could move into the top four ahead of the weekend's action.
Just a reminder that we have a host of La Liga action on Sports Mole this weekend. We begin tomorrow from 4pm as Valencia host Real Sociedad. Following on from that is Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao and then Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid.
We also have Sunday covered with live commentary from all four La Liga matches. Remain with us for the weekend's action and you will not miss a kick. The players are just emerging onto the pitch with little under five minutes until kickoff.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Let's hope for some goals on this mild evening in Spain. Osasuna could certainly do with the three points. But Rayo have top four hopes of their own.
Here we go then. Osasuna get the action underway with Leo and Lass. However, decent pressing from the away side immediately forces possession out of play. That is the kind of attitude that will impress their manager.
It’s been a bright start from the away side with Trashorras and Javi Fuego both enjoying possession of the ball in the midfield area. A searching pass comes close to releasing Leo down the left, but the striker is challenged by Alvaro Cejudo.
Again it's good work from the away side as Piti finds Leo in the penalty area, but the striker just cannot connect and Oier is on hand to clear the danger. Rayo also have a penalty shout as Arribas appears to handle in the penalty area, but no decision is forthcoming.
GOAL! Osasuna 1-0 Rayo Vallecano (Sola)
The home side take the lead after just six minutes as Kike Sola drives into the penalty area before finishing past the onrushing Cobeno. It was a wonderful finish from the Spanish striker.
Decent response from Rayo with Fuego and Trashorras dominating the passing in midfield. The latter finds the run of Leo, who in turn finds Piti, but Andres Fernandez is on hand to make a fine diving safe to keep his side ahead.
Half-chance for the away side as Leo meets a corner from Franco Vasquez, but the striker's header was just wide of the far post. Osasuna threaten with a counter attack involving Nano, but the danger is eventually cleared by Jordi Amat.
It really has been a bright opening 12 minutes to this match with both sides demonstrating their attacking threat. The early pressure from the home side is coming from Sola, while Leo has been the brightest spark for Rayo thus far. It is so delicately poised at the moment.
Again Leo is the target for Rayo as Piti attempts to find the striker with a searching pass, but it is just too long and Fernandez is on hand to collect. Leo turns provider for Dominguez moments later, but the Argentine is ruled offside as he advanced on goal.
Rayo continue to force the better chances with a series of high balls into the Osasuna penalty area. But the final ball has just eluded them thus far and the home side clear the danger. You can just sense that there will be more goals in this match. Neither looks particularly comfortable in defence.
Another chance falls to Rayo as Trashorras collects possession outside of the penalty area, but his effort is wide of the post. Osasuna are really struggling to put a period of passing together at the moment, but they have something to defend courtesy of Sola's strike after five minutes.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Nano fires a high cross into the penalty area, but Tito is on hand to clear the danger for a corner. The set piece is towards Loe, but the flag is raised for a foul and play is resumed with Cobeno. But that has lifted the home supporters.
Another opportunity falls to the home side as Sisi searches out the run of Sola, but Galvez just steps across at the final moment to clear the danger. Decent spell for Osasuna at the moment. Can they force the second goal? That would change the entire feel of the match. Even this early.
The match has just settled in the last couple of minutes with both sides exchanging possession in midfield. But there remains a great deal of space behind the Osasuna defence and you fancy Leo to exploit it at some point this evening.
Slight bit of controversy here as Tito appears to tread on Nano, but the referee views it as a coming together and no cards are issued. Not a great deal to report in terms of chances in the past few moments. Meanwhile, neither side is really on top in a scrappy spell of the match.
Just a reminder that three points this evening would move Osasuna out of the relegation zone and into 16th position. Meanwhile, as it stands Rayo occupy eighth spot. Poor defending presents possession to Sola just inside the Rayo box, but he can only fire his effort wide of the post.
There is no doubt that Rayo have been impressive this season, but they have a habit of gifting teams chances. Something that is almost always punished at this level. It remains 1-0 to the home side as we approach the 30-minute mark in the match.
CHANCE! Rayo come close to an equaliser as Piti finds Dominguez in the Osasuna penalty area, but the Argentine is just dispossessed in the act of shooting and the danger is cleared. Osasuna break down the other end, but Sola's attempted pass to Nano is wide of the mark.
Suddenly the chances are just starting to come for Rayo as Piti and Leo both come close with chances in quick succession. But Osasuna have been nice and tight in defensive areas thus far and consequently they still lead. Little over 10 minutes of the half remaining.
CHANCE! Again Rayo are a whisker away from levelling as Dominguez loops a free kick to the far post, but it just misses the target. Meanwhile, early change for the home side as the injured Sisi is replaced by Joseba Llorente.
The pressure remains from Rayo as Galvez fires a low cross into the penalty area, but after some desperate defending the danger is cleared. You just feel that Osasuna have to hold onto the lead until the interval. The pressure is just starting to rise.
Poor defending from Rayo hands an opportunity to Sola inside the penalty area, but the striker just cannot sort his feet out and the danger is cleared. That is always the danger for the away side. Their defence is so unreliable. We have a big five minutes coming up for both sides.
Rayo force another free kick outside the penalty area as Leo is felled by Oier. However, the set piece is wasted with Trashorras firing over the crossbar. That pretty much sums up the first half of football from the away side.
The free kicks continue to fall for Rayo, much to the frustration of the home supporters. What is the Spanish for "You don't know what you're doing?" Little over a minute of the first half remaining.
The fourth official indicates that we will play a minute of added time at the end of the half and Osasuna currently have possession of the ball. They will enter the break with their lead in tact.
Osasuna 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
So there we have it. The referee brings the first half of action to an end with Osasuna leading 1-0 courtesy of a strike from Kike Sola after five minutes.
In truth, chances have been few and far between, but Rayo will enter the interval disappointed not to be level. Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football.
Rayo have dominated the possession with 64%, while they have managed five shots to Osasuna's three. That said, both sides have registered just one shot on target which demonstrates the lack of shooting opportunities in the opening 45 minutes.
As it stands Rayo would remain in eighth spot in the table. But three points would move them into sixth. Osasuna will move into 16th if they can hold on to the three points, but a draw would also move them out of the bottom three.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of the second period. Let's hope for more goals in the opening fixture of week 14 in Spain's top division.
Rayo get the action underway. No changes for either side at the interval but I would expect that to change in the next 15 minutes or so. Stay with us for the entirety of the night's events.
High-tempo start to the second half with both sides exchanging counter attacks. But each breaks down at the vital moment and the danger is quelled. The play is all very narrow at the moment. Where are the old fashioned wingers? With their low socks and scruffy hair.
Rayo are dominating possession at the moment with Vasquez and Leo both enjoying numerous touches of the ball. But their final ball has been off-target thus far with Dominguez and Piti struggling to get into the match. It would be fair to say that Osasuna are comfortable.
The home supporters are making their voices known at the moment with their side just struggling to string a few passes together. But the early strike from Sola has given them something to hang onto. Osasuna force a couple of corners, but the danger is cleared.
Rayo continue to pass and probe outside the Osasuna penalty area, but time after time their final pass is cleared with ease. I would not be surprised to see a change or two in the next five minutes. The match is just crying out for some inspiration.
It's really smart work from Dominguez as he dances into the Osasuna penalty area, but the danger is cleared for a corner. Meanwhile, the set piece from the Argentine fails to make it past the first defender and the danger is cleared. But there are signs that Rayo are upping the tempo.
Not a great deal to report in terms of chances in the past few minutes. Rayo are dominating possession of the ball, but are yet to really test Fernandez in the home side's goal. You just get the sense that the next goal - if there is one - will ultimately decide the result.
CHANCE! Clearest opportunity of the second period for Rayo as Piti muscles off Arribas before striking towards the top corner, but it just moves past the post. It was inches away from levelling the scores with 30 minutes remaining.
CHANCE! Suddenly the chances are coming for both sides as Sola picks up possession inside the box before striking towards goal, but Cobeno makes a diving save. Cejudo comes close in the next phase of play, but the danger is bundled away.
Meanwhile, change for the home side as Timor replaces the goalscorer Sola - who appears to be carrying some sort of hip injury. His goal still separates the two sides with less than 30 minutes of football to play. Can they hold on?
Another half-chance comes to the home side as Llorente strikes an effort from outside the box, but it moves just wide of the post. Rayo threaten immediately down the other end, but once more the danger is cleared by a well-drilled Osasuna defence.
Another change for the home side as Roland Lamah replaces Cejudo. Rayo continue to threaten with a series of high balls into the penalty area, but the danger is cleared. Little over 20 minutes of football remaining and Osasuna remain in the lead.
Half-chance for Rayo as Riki pounces on a loose ball before driving towards the by-line, but Fernandez comes to collect the danger. Meanwhile, change for the away side as Trashorras is replaced by Andrija Delibasic.
Not a great deal to report in terms of chances in the past few moments. Rayo's attacking threat has just been dampened with Osasuna currently forcing the issue. The home supporters are remaining vocal and it is being transferred onto their players.
Rayo have the ball in the back of the net as Leo converts from close range, but the offside flag is raised and the goal is ruled out. Replays have shown that it was just about the correct decision. Although it really could have gone either way.
The tempo has just been raised in the past few moments with both teams committing numbers to their attacks. But the final pass continues to miss its desired destination and the danger is cleared. This match is just crying out for some inspiration. Some real quality.
Right we have little over 10 minutes remaining and Osasuna remain 1-0 ahead courtesy of that early strike from Sola. The pressure remains from Rayo, but the home side are a threat on the counter with their fresh players running down the clock.
Half-chance for the home side as Nano strikes a free kick from outside the penalty area, but his effort just moves past the post. The attacking threat from Rayo has just disappeared in the last few minutes and now Osasuna look the more likely.
Change for the away side as Vasquez is replaced by Lass. Can the striker inspire his team in the final eight minutes or so? The match has just become stretched in the past couple of minutes with high balls being exchanged between both teams.
Half-chance for the home side as Loe whips a dangerous cross into the penalty area, but Llorente cannot make contact and play is resumed with a Rayo goal kick. I may have just cursed this, but I cannot see a goal coming in the final five minutes or so.
Osasuna are comfortable as the match approaches its final stages. Rayo have possession of the ball, but each time they attempt to force it the danger is cleared. A cross from Dominguez searches out Leo, but once more the threat is quelled.
It's good work from Riki as he dances into the Osasuna penalty box before forcing a corner. But Oier jumps highest to clear the danger. The home side have possession of the ball with little over two minutes of normal time remaining.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes of football. Can Rayo force an equaliser or will Osasuna hang on for a vital three points in the context of their season?
Rayo continue to force the issue with a series of balls into the penalty area, but it continues to come back with interest. The home supporters can be heard as we enter the final minute. They think it is all over. And it may well be as Delibasic fires over from close range.
Osasuna 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
Kike Sola's early strike proves enough to secure a vital three points for Osasuna. A result that moves them out of the bottom three. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and join us for more La Liga football tomorrow. Until then!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
