Osasuna the first team into playoff final

Naranjo on cue again

Naranjo's goals are one of the main reasons that Nastic have fought down to the wire for Liga BBVA promotion, and the striker was on cue again against At. Osasuna. The Catalan outfit hit the ground running in the match in search of a comeback. The full-back Gerard caused no end of trouble right from the start with his runs down the right flank, and the first goal of the game came as a result. After a superb piece of individual play, Gerard launched a cross into the area and Naranjo's well-directed header gave his team hope of overturning the 3-1 defeat in the first leg. It was the striker's 16th goal in the Liga Adelante this season.

#PlayOffLaLiga | 1-0 | ¡Un testarazo para creer! @JoseNaranjo7 volvió a marcar en casa frente a Osasuna...  https://t.co/IgRx8CDxGO

— LaLiga (@LaLiga) June 11, 2016

Set pieces the key for Osasuna

Osasuna reacted after the opener and started to threaten Manuel Reina's goal, but the keeper was rock solid, denying Osasuna on their first two attempts. Nevertheless, the approach of the Navarre outfit soon reaped its reward and there was nothing Reina could do to stop them. After a free-kick on the edge of the area, Manuel played the ball out quickly to Miguel de las Cuevas, and he sent a cross into the box for David Garcia to capitalise on, heading his team level to the dismay of the home defence.

Nerves

The goal meant Gimnastic needed to score twice to force extra time, and Vicente Moreno's men came out for the second half intent on bombarding Nauzet Perez's goal to try to get back into the fight. The visiting keeper denied them the goal that would have made it 2-1 with a fine save, but as the minutes ticked by the home team's nerves began to show and the holes started to appear in their defence, allowing Osasuna to create danger.

Work of art to seal the victory

Osasuna, kitted out in yellow as opposed to their customary red, had the support of hundreds of fans at the Nou Estadi de Tarragona, and the visiting faithful went wild as they witnessed the goal which put their side on the brink of a place in the promotion playoff final. After a good move down the left, Mikel Merino pulled off a magnificent back-heel to set up Javier Flaño, who came from deep and fired an unstoppable strike into the top corner to make it 2-1.

Merino's magic

If there was one man who stood out over the two legs it was Mikel Merino. The talented Osasuna youth product had already netted twice in the first leg, and he was not going to settle for just an assist for his team's second goal in this match. The 19-year-old produced an immaculate performance in the middle of the park and unleashed a powerful finish to make it 3-1 to the visitors after receiving a pass from Nino in the six-yard box. Juan Muñiz's late strike for Nastic was too late to prevent Osasuna from progressing, and Merino now has his mind focussed on the big final of the promotion playoffs. He and his teammates are waiting to see who their opponents will be, with Girona FC and Cordoba CF set to face each other on Sunday.