Key Takeaways
- Sevilla conceded a winning goal in the 99th minute to lose 2-1 against Osasuna in Pamplona
- The defeat leaves them in the La Liga relegation zone with only five matches remaining this season
- The club faces its most serious relegation threat since dropping to the second tier in 2000
Sevilla suffered a devastating blow in their fight for survival as Osasuna scored a last-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory at El Sadar Stadium. The home side found the net in the ninth minute of added time through Alejandro Catena. This defeat pushes Sevilla into the relegation places with just five games remaining.
Manager Luis García watched in disbelief as his team conceded from a throw-in deep into stoppage time. The coach had previously warned that every match would bring “total suffering” as the club battles to avoid the drop. After the final whistle, García marched onto the pitch visibly angry while his players sat destroyed on the bench.
The result leaves Sevilla one point from safety with only one win in their last eleven matches. This is their lowest league position at this stage of the season since 1999-2000, the last time the club fell into the second division. Just two years ago, the team competed in the Champions League and won the Europa League in 2023.
Captain Nemanja Gudelj struggled to speak after the match. “It hurts, it hurts a lot,” he said. Defender Gabriel Suazo promised to give his life for the club. The mood in the dressing room reflects deep despair among players who know they are running out of time to save their season.
García has collected only three points from four matches since replacing Matias Almeyda last month. The previous manager left after winning just two of thirteen games. The new coach secured a 2-1 victory against Atlético Madrid in his second match, though the opposition rested their main players ahead of cup finals.
The crisis runs deeper than results on the pitch. The club suffers from serious financial problems, operating under the second-lowest salary limit in the top flight. A family conflict between former president José María del Nido Sr and his son, current president José María del Nido Jr, adds to the instability. The team has seen eleven different coaches in nine years.
Sevilla now face two crucial home matches where they must improve their poor record at the Sánchez Pizjuán. Only two other teams in the division have won fewer points at home this season. With time running out, the former European giants must find a way to overcome their fear and secure the points needed to maintain their top-flight status.