Villarreal 2-1 Osasuna Player Ratings: Yellow Submarine Mounts Second-Half Comeback to Win 2-1

Villarreal clawed their way back from a goal down to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory over a ten-man Osasuna. From our perspective, the entire dynamic of the match shifted in the 40th minute. That was when Valentin Rosier received his second yellow card, leaving his team in a terrible spot.

Despite the disadvantage, Osasuna surprisingly took the lead. Ante Budimir coolly converted a penalty just before the halftime whistle. The penalty was a moment of madness from Thomas Partey. It felt like Osasuna might just pull off an impossible heist. But it wasn't to be.

The second half was all Villarreal. They laid siege to the Osasuna goal. Georges Mikautadze finally broke through with a header to level the scores. Just when a draw seemed likely, Pape Gueye unleashed a fantastic strike from distance in the 85th minute to win it. It was a deserved win for Villarreal in the end, but you have to admire Osasuna's grit. Here are the Villarreal vs Osasuna player ratings.

Villarreal Player Ratings vs Osasuna

Here are the Villarreal player ratings vs Osasuna.

Goalkeeper

Luiz Júnior - 7.0: We noticed he wasn't tested much for large parts of the game. However, he was sharp when it mattered most. He made two crucial saves inside the box. That late stop to deny Raúl García was absolutely vital. Couldn't do anything about the penalty. A confident performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Rafa Marín - 7.0: A really solid and composed display at the back. He completed 95% of his passes, showing his comfort on the ball. He won six of his ten duels and made some important clearances. From our perspective, he was a calm head in a chaotic game.

Juan Foyth - 6.5: Captained the side and led by example for his 67 minutes on the pitch. He was tidy in possession, rarely giving the ball away. He wasn't tested too severely defensively but kept the line organized. Subbed off as Villarreal pushed for the win.

Alfonso Pedraza - 7.5: An absolute menace down the left flank. He was a primary attacking outlet, especially in the second half. He delivered an incredible 11 crosses and created three chances. What stood out to us were the two big chances he created. His constant pressure was key to breaking Osasuna down.

Pau Navarro - 6.0: A mixed bag of a performance from the youngster. He got himself a yellow card and looked a bit rash at times, conceding a couple of fouls. However, he was still tidy on the ball with a 92% pass accuracy before being substituted just before the hour mark.

Midfielders

Thomas Partey - 5.0: A night to forget for him, really. His performance was completely overshadowed by the clumsy handball that gifted Osasuna a penalty. It was a moment of panic that put his team in a huge hole. Unsurprisingly substituted early in the second half.

Pape Gueye - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He was the hero with that stunning long-range winner. Beyond the goal, his engine in midfield was incredible. He was everywhere, making tackles, driving forward, and he even created two chances. A truly dominant and match-winning performance.

Ilias Akhomach - 6.5: Looked very bright and dangerous in the first half. He forced two good saves from the Osasuna keeper and always looked positive. It was a real shame his evening was cut short by injury at halftime. He was on his way to a much higher rating.

Alberto Moleiro - 6.0: A rather quiet game from him. We expected him to be more involved, but he struggled to impose himself on the match. He was neat in possession but didn't provide the creative spark needed before being subbed off.

Forwards

Georges Mikautadze - 8.0: He was a persistent thorn in Osasuna's side. He finally got his reward with the crucial equalizing goal, a well-placed header. He took six shots in total, always looking for an opening. He did miss two big chances, which is the only reason his rating isn't even higher.

Nicolas Pépé - 7.0: A frustrating yet impactful performance. He was a whirlwind of activity, taking five shots and creating four key passes. However, his decision-making was erratic, and he lost possession an astonishing 25 times. He tried to make things happen, but the end product just wasn't always there.

Manager

M. García Toral - 7.5: His team went down in the worst possible way, but he didn't panic. His second-half adjustments and substitutions, pushing his team forward, were spot on. He set his team up to relentlessly exploit the man advantage, and it paid off perfectly. A well-managed comeback.

Osasuna Player Ratings vs Villarreal

Here are the Osasuna player ratings vs Villarreal.

Goalkeeper

Sergio Herrera - 7.5: What a heroic effort from the captain. He was the main reason Osasuna were even in the game for so long. He made six saves, three of which were from point-blank range inside the box. He commanded his area well under immense pressure. He couldn't stop the two excellent goals, but he was outstanding.

Defenders

Juan Cruz - 6.0: Had a solid first half but was sacrificed at halftime for a tactical switch after the red card. He even missed a big chance early on, which could have changed the game. It’s hard to judge him fully, given the circumstances.

Enzo Boyomo - 6.5: A battling performance from the central defender. He put his body on the line, making five clearances and winning most of his duels. He was part of a defense under siege and held his own for the most part. A determined display.

Alejandro Catena - 7.0: A titan at the back. From our perspective, his 14 clearances tell the whole story. He was everywhere, heading balls away, blocking shots, and making tackles. He tried to keep his defensive line organized against overwhelming odds. A fantastic defensive effort.

Midfielders

Lucas Torró - 6.5: He fought a losing battle in midfield but never gave up. Winning 10 duels and making four tackles and four interceptions shows his immense workload. He did pick up a yellow card and was eventually overrun by Villarreal's numbers, but his effort was commendable.

Jon Moncayola - 6.0: He worked tirelessly but struggled to get a foothold in the game. He was forced into doing almost exclusively defensive work after the red card. He made three interceptions but found it difficult to retain possession under pressure.

Valentin Rosier - 3.0: The clear villain of the piece for his team. Getting two yellow cards for two needless fouls before halftime was unforgivable. He completely let his teammates and manager down. His dismissal changed the entire course of the match and was the single biggest reason for the loss.

Abel Bretones - 6.0: A very tough night for the midfielder. He spent most of the match pinned back in his own half, defending for his life. He still managed to win seven duels and made five clearances. He worked incredibly hard but offered little going forward.

Forwards

Rubén García - 6.5: Another casualty of the red card. He was looking lively and even created a big chance in the first half. He was sacrificed at halftime to bring on a more defensive player. It felt like he could have caused problems if he had stayed on.

Ante Budimir - 7.5: A fantastic lone-striker performance. He was incredibly isolated but held the ball up brilliantly, winning nine duels. He showed immense composure to score his penalty and give his team a shock lead. He was a real handful for the 77 minutes he was on the pitch.

Víctor Muñoz - 5.5: He ran his socks off but lacked quality in the final third. He missed a decent chance in the first half. He showed plenty of effort but struggled to make a real impact on the game before being substituted.

Manager

A. Lisci - 6.0: His initial game plan was working perfectly. His team was organized and took the lead. The red card completely destroyed his strategy. From our perspective, his defensive changes kept his team in the game for an impressively long time. It’s hard to fault him for a loss that was caused by individual indiscipline.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Pape Gueye