Soccer-Osasuna edge closer to Europe with Atletico win
PAMPLONA, Spain, May 15 (Reuters) - Osasuna secured a surprise 2-0 home win over Atletico Madrid in LaLiga on Thursday as headers by Alejandro Catena and Ante Budimir moved them another step closer to European football.
Defender Catena headed in from a corner to put the hosts in front in the 25th minute before Budimir doubled Osasuna's advantage eight minutes from fulltime, moving them up to ninth in the standings.
Osasuna are now level on 48 points with eighth-placed Rayo Vallecano, who occupy the spot for the Conference League qualifiers as five LaLiga teams are headed to the Champions League this season.
Osasuna will hope to return to a European competition nearly two decades after they reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, back then known as UEFA Cup, in 2007.
They reached the Conference League playoffs last season but were eliminated by Club Brugge 4-3 on aggregate.
Atletico, who have been out of the title race and had already secured a Champions League spot, remained third with 70 points after 36 games.
Diego Simeone's side, who beat Real Sociedad 4-0 on Saturday with striker Alexander Sorloth scoring all four goals inside 30 minutes, looked uninspired and went behind when Catena converted Bryan Zaragoza's corner kick to give Osasuna the lead.
Sorloth had an excellent chance to equalise eight minutes later with a diving header but Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera made a superb save.
The encounter was largely forgettable after that until Budimir nodded home late on.
Enzo Boyomo showed some impressive dribbling skills before passing to Kike Barja, who crossed into the box for Croatian striker Budimir to score his 20th league goal of the campaign.
Budimir is third in the LaLiga scoring charts this season, behind Kylian Mbappe (28) and Robert Lewandowski (25).
Osasuna host 16th-placed Espanyol on Sunday before visiting Deportivo Alaves, in 17th, in their final fixture.
Atletico will play Real Betis and Girona to end their season. (Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk Editing by Christian Radnedge) Estadio El Sadar Spain Osasuna Atlético Madrid
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-European game generated 38 bln euros in 2023-24 season, study shows
June 11 - Europe's soccer market grew by 8% in terms of revenue in the 2023-24 season to 38 billion euros with England's Premier League generating the most, Deloitte said in a study published on Wednesday. In its Annual Review of Football Finance, Deloitte said the top five leagues Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A and Ligue 1 generated 20.4 billion euros in revenue, an increase of 4%. Premier League clubs had the highest revenue of Europe's top leagues at 6.3 billion pounds . However, the traditional 'big six' clubs in England's top flight reported lower average revenue growth than other clubs that were in the Premier League in both the 2023-24 and 2022-23 seasons . The study said the growth was largely driven by expansion of clubs' commercial offerings, which also led to the teams cumulatively generating more than two billion pounds in commercial revenue for the first time. "A focus on stadia development and diversification of commercial revenues led to growth across the European football market in the 2023-24 season," Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte's Sports Business Group, said. "However, clubs and leagues cannot afford to take their eye off the ball as new challenges, including an evolving regulatory landscape and changing fan behaviours, arise. "The pressure is mounting for more clubs to drive additional revenue at the same time as managing rising costs. "More so than ever, leaders and owners must recognise the great responsibility they have of managing these businesses, capturing the historic essence of a football club while honouring its unrivalled role as a community asset for generations to come." Clubs in Europe's 'big five' leagues reported an aggregate operating profit for a second successive season, while the aggregate wages/revenue ratio fell from 66% to 64%. WSL REVENUE SOARS Clubs in England's Women's Super League jointly generated revenue of 65 million pounds in the 2023-24 season, a 34% rise. Each WSL club had a double-digit increase in revenue, while all 12 clubs reported over one million pounds in revenue for the first time, with an average revenue of 5.4 million pounds. "Through developing more robust fan engagement strategies, strong commercial deals and securing central distributions, WSL clubs unlocked a new phase of growth," Deloitte Sports Business group's knowledge and insights lead Jennifer Haskel said. "Plus, as the reporting and attribution of commercial revenue remains inconsistent between clubs, we may be scratching the surface on the value now being generated by the women's game."
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Premier League 'under strain' despite record £6.3 bn revenues
The combined revenue of Premier League clubs rose to a record £6.3 billion in the 2023/24 season, but fan unrest and worsening competitive balance are cause for concern, according to financial experts Deloitte. The rise in income for England's 20 top-flight clubs was fuelled by commercial income surpassing £2 billion for the first time and a rise in matchday revenue beyond £900 million. English clubs continue to enjoy a huge financial advantage over their European rivals. Spain's La Liga, the second highest revenue-generating league, earned just over half that amount at 3.8 billion euros, almost 50 percent of which came from Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, fan protests have become a common sight at Premier League stadiums over rising ticket prices and the squeezing out of local supporters to make way for more tourists willing to spend more for a special matchday experience. "There can be no doubt that the system in English football is under strain," said Tim Bridge, the lead partner in the Deloitte Sports Business Group. "Repeated reports of fan unrest at ticket price and accessibility demonstrate the challenge in the modern era of balancing commercial growth with the historic essence of a football club's role and position in society: as a community asset." There is also uncertainty over the implications of an incoming independent regulator for England's top five leagues. And for the past two seasons, all three promoted clubs from the Championship have been immediately relegated back to the second tier. "The financial implications of the 'yo-yo effect' on clubs, their spending, and overall competitiveness are major factors to address in order to continue attracting high levels of investment across the system," added Bridge in Deloitte's Annual Review of Football Finance. Total revenue of European clubs rose by eight percent in the 2023/24 campaign to 38 billion euros, boosted by increased commercial revenue and stadium developments. The women's game also continues to grow commercially, particularly in England's Women's Super League . Collective revenues in the WSL rose 34 percent to £65 million in 2023/24 and are projected to reach £100 million in the upcoming season. kca/nf
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Will he put a ring on it? Inside Travis Kelce's rumored proposal plans for Taylor Swift
Rumors are circulating about a potential engagement between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift (Getty Images) Rumors are swirling in both the sports and pop culture worlds, and the question on everyone's lips is: Is Travis Kelce about to propose to Taylor Swift? As the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and the global pop icon continue to dominate headlines with their high-profile romance, insiders claim the couple may be inching closer to an engagement that could break the internet. Fans believe the timing is perfect for a proposal before the NFL season begins Sources close to the couple suggest that Travis Kelce is seriously considering popping the question this summer—potentially before NFL training camp kicks off. With Taylor Swift wrapping up her European leg of the Eras Tour in August, fans believe the offseason provides the perfect window for a romantic proposal. Online fan forums are abuzz with theories, especially after Kelce was spotted browsing luxury jewelry stores in Los Angeles. While nothing has been confirmed, Swifties and Chiefs fans alike are eagerly speculating on a late summer engagement announcement. Hints from their inner circle and what Travis Kelce has already said Those close to Kelce say the athlete has never been more serious about a relationship. 'He's completely smitten,' said one insider. 'This isn't just a celebrity fling for him—he's planning a future.' Kelce himself has spoken openly about wanting a family and settling down, and many believe Taylor Swift fits that vision perfectly. In past interviews, Kelce hinted that he's not afraid of commitment, noting that he wants to marry someone who understands the pressure of fame. Swift, having navigated global superstardom for nearly two decades, may be the perfect match. Why a Swift-Kelce engagement would make cultural and commercial history An engagement between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift wouldn't just be personal—it would be historic. The combined fanbases of the NFL and the Swiftie universe would create a media frenzy unseen in recent celebrity history. Branding experts already predict that a wedding announcement could spark a wave of endorsements, merchandise, and cross-industry collaborations worth millions. Moreover, such a union would continue to reshape how celebrity couples influence everything from fashion to sports ratings. Also Read: Taylor Swift is more than a lucky charm—her influence on Travis Kelce and the Chiefs has fans questioning her true role While nothing is confirmed, the signs all point to something big on the horizon. Whether it's an NFL ring or an engagement ring, Travis Kelce may be getting ready to make the biggest play of his life—off the field.
