Osasuna's goals: Ante Budimir leads the line

Osasuna's goals: Ante Budimir leads the line

Where Osasuna's goals come from in the La Liga, led by their top scorer.

TL;DR: I've been pleasantly surprised by Osasuna's recent form, particularly their 2-0 win over Santander on October 18, which has me thinking they're more than just a mid-table team. After that dominant home performance, I'm starting to believe they've got what it takes to push even higher up the La Liga rankings.
SP

Senior Football Writer

Published 5 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026

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Ante Budimir, 7 league goals

On 2026-10-18, CA Osasuna won 2-0 vs Santander at home, a result that highlighted the team's reliance on their top scorer, Ante Budimir, who has netted 7 league goals so far. This output is a significant portion of the team's total goals for, which stands at 10, and raises questions about the team's attacking depth and ability to score without their star man.

Osasuna and the clubs either side — La Liga
#ClubPWDLGFGAPts
8RC Celta de Vigo925210711
9RC Deportivo La Coruña9252131211
10CA Osasuna9324101811
11Athletic Club7232769
12Villarreal CF923413139
Osasuna — last 3 results
DateOpponentScore
2026-09-19HRayo Vallecano1–1D
2026-10-11AReal Betis2–5L
2026-10-18HSantander2–0W

Looking at the goals-for figure, 10 goals in 9 games is not a terrible return, but it's not spectacular either, and for a team sitting in 10th place, you would expect a bit more firepower. As you can see on the Osasuna club hub, the team's recent form has been inconsistent, and this is reflected in their attacking output. The 2-0 win over Santander was a welcome boost, but it's hard to shake the feeling that the team is still struggling to find its rhythm in front of goal.

The team's attacking play has been led by Budimir, who has shouldered the bulk of the goal-scoring responsibility, and while he has risen to the challenge, it's unclear whether the team can sustain this level of performance over the course of the season. You can get an idea of the team's chances of doing so by checking our predictions for their upcoming games. One thing is certain, though: if Budimir's form dips, the team will need to find alternative sources of goals, and quickly.

Home and away splits

The team's recent home games have been a mixed bag, with a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano on 2026-09-19 and the 2-0 win over Santander on 2026-10-18. In contrast, their away form has been poor, with a 2-5 thrashing at the hands of Real Betis on 2026-10-11. This split is worrying, as the team's ability to pick up points on the road will be crucial in determining their final league position.

The home games have been more encouraging, with the team looking more solid and composed in front of their own fans. The 2-0 win over Santander was a case in point, with the team controlling the game from start to finish and creating a number of clear scoring opportunities. If they can maintain this level of performance at home, they may be able to climb the table, but their away form needs to improve dramatically. For those looking to bet on the team's upcoming games, this split is definitely something to consider.

It's hard to put your finger on exactly what's going wrong away from home, but it's clear that the team is struggling to adapt to different environments and opponents. They need to find a way to overcome this hurdle if they're to achieve their goals for the season. A good starting point would be to analyze their recent away games and identify areas for improvement.

The reliance on Ante Budimir

Budimir's 7 league goals account for 70% of the team's total goals for, a staggering proportion that highlights the team's reliance on their top scorer. This is a worrying trend, as it suggests that the team is not creating enough scoring opportunities for their other players. If Budimir were to get injured or suspended, it's unclear who would step up to fill the void.

This reliance on one player is a recipe for disaster, as it leaves the team vulnerable to fluctuations in form and fitness. The team needs to find a way to spread the goal-scoring burden more evenly, and to create more opportunities for their other attackers. As it stands, they are too dependent on Budimir, and this could come back to haunt them in the long run.

The team's attacking play needs to become more nuanced and sophisticated, with a greater emphasis on creating chances for all players, not just Budimir. This will require a change in approach, with the team looking to play more expansively and to get more players involved in the attacking third. Until they can do this, they will remain reliant on their top scorer, and this will limit their potential.

A change in approach

A change in approach would require the team to rethink their tactics and to look for new ways to create scoring opportunities. This could involve playing with a more attacking mindset, taking more risks, and looking to get more players forward. It could also involve working on set pieces and looking to exploit weaknesses in the opposition's defense.

Whatever approach they choose, it's clear that the team needs to find a way to reduce their reliance on Budimir and to create more scoring opportunities for their other players. Until they can do this, they will remain a one-dimensional team that is too dependent on one player.

The squad and positions

Looking at the squad, it's clear that the team has a good balance of players in each position. In goal, they have Sergio Herrera and Aitor Fernández, both of whom are capable shot-stoppers. In defense, they have Diego Rico, Valentin Rosier, and Catena, who form a solid backline. In midfield, they have Lucas Torró, Moi Gómez, and Jon Moncayola, who provide a good mix of creativity and work rate. Up front, they have Romain Del Castillo, Budimir, and Kike Barja, who offer a range of attacking options.

Despite this balance, the team is still struggling to find consistency and to gel as a unit. This is perhaps due to a lack of depth in certain positions, or perhaps due to a lack of cohesion between the different lines. Whatever the reason, it's clear that the team needs to find a way to get all their players working together effectively if they're to achieve their goals for the season.

As the season wears on, it will be interesting to see how the team develops and whether they can find a way to overcome their current struggles. One player who will be key to their success is Budimir, who will need to continue scoring goals if the team is to climb the table.

And Budimir will be the key to unlocking the team's potential in the next phase of the season.

Table, form and scoring figures from football-data.org, correct at publication.

Tags

La LigaOsasunaCA Osasunagoal-threat

Frequently asked questions

What's behind Osasuna's decent start to the season?

For me, it's all about Ante Budimir's goal-scoring prowess - his 7 goals have been a game-changer, and I think he's the key to their success so far.

Where can I find more data on Osasuna's season?

I get my stats from football-data.org, it's a great resource for anyone looking to dive deeper into the numbers behind the beautiful game.

Are Osasuna's defensive woes a major concern?

Losing 18 goals in just 9 games is definitely a worry, but that 2-0 win over Santander showed me they're capable of tightening up at the back when it matters.