A last gasp 88th minute Cristiano Ronaldo header off a beautifully floated Gonzalo Higuain cross made the difference.
The first half was a breathless box to box affair with very little in the way of defense. Osasuna took the lead through Carlos Aranda after Albiol’s mistake in the 5′ minute. Cristiano Ronaldo equalized in the 23′ minute. Krisztián Vadócz finished superbly in the 41st minute to give Osasuna a shortlived 2-1 lead. Marcelo’s header brought back the Merengues in the 43d minute.
Osasuna had a glorious chance to take the lead when they broke away in a counterattack through Masoud and Krisztián Vadócz. Both had Casillas at their mercy when Vadócz fed Masoud whose weak shot drifted away from goal.
Manuel Pellegrini had a haunted look as the club from Pamplona managed to keep away everything that the Merengues threw at them. He was able to finally exhale when Ronaldo scored his winner.
With the win, Real are a point behind league leaders Barca and it all comes down to the last three games.