Real Madrid sent off Jose Mourinho with a 4-2 victory over Osasuna as supporters around the stadium spent the day battling over their opinions of the departing manager.
Real Madrid vs. Osasuna: Final score 4-2, Mourinho leaves Los Merengues with a victory
Real Madrid withstood a second half comeback from Osasuna and gave Jose Mourinho a parting gift in his final match in charge of the Spanish club.
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A mostly dull first half was livened up a bit ten minute before halftime when Gonzalo Higuaín beat Osasuna's high line thanks in part to an excellent dummy by Angel Di Maria. Higuaín dribbled in on goal and beat Asier Riesgo with a low side-footed shot. Three minutes later Michael Essien doubled the lead as Osasuna failed to mark him on a corner and he sent a headed shot just inside the post.
Osasuna fought back early in the second half when the Madrid defense failed to close down on Roberto Torres on the edge of the area. The 24-year-old midfielder cut inside and blasted a low shot into the lower right corner past a diving Jesus Fernandez.
The visitors equalized in the 63rd minute after a ball into the box was headed on by Manuel Omwu to Álvaro Cejudo who headed the ball down into the bottom corner past Fernandez.
Benzema fired Madrid back in front six minutes later, slicing apart the Osasuna defense before scoring from just inside the area after receiving a lovely ball from Mesut Özil. José Callejón scored with two minutes left to secure the win.
Jose Mourinho tried to stay under the radar on his final day in charge of Madrid but photographers who were trying to get shots on the outgoing manager forced him back into the spotlight at the opening the match. A huge crowd of photographers forced Mourinho nearly onto the pitch and refused to leave the touchline as stewards forcibly pushed and shoved them, delaying the start of the game a couple minutes.
Throughout the match the more spirited supporters on the south end of the Santiago Bernabéu started up pro-Mourinho songs and chants, only to be drowned out by whistles and jeers from the rest of the stadium. The Portuguese manager applauded the south end at the final whistle before departing down the tunnel for the final time.
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