Recreativo on verge of final

Useful lead
Goals from Ignacio Benítez and Raúl Molina gave Recreativo a more than useful lead to take into next month's second leg in Pamplona. Osasuna coach Javier Aguirre, however, must be regretting his decision to not play several first-team regulars.

Regulars rested
The Mexican chose to rest players such as Iván Rosado, José Yanguas, Ricardo Sanzol, Alfredo Sánchez, Antonio López and John Aloisi ahead of Sunday's league game against RC Deportivo La Coruña and saw his gamble backfire as his fringe players produced a disappointing display.

Two warnings
The visitors had two warnings early in the game. First, veteran goalkeeper Juan Carlos Unzué tipped wide a header from Recreativo defender Loren and two minutes later former Spain Under-21 striker Xisco fired a left-foot shot just wide of goal.

Osasuna nervous
Osasuna were looking nervous in defence and it was no surprise when Benítez put Recreativo in front after 17 minutes. The midfielder had time to control a weak defensive header before picking his spot and firing home a left-foot volley, which Unzué failed to pick up among a crowd of players.

High tempo
The match was being played at a high tempo and Osasuna's urgency to get back into it meant their gameplan foundered amid the hustle and bustle of the Recreativo midfield. Aguirre's men will feel they were unlucky not to have got on level terms at the start of the second half after first Gorka Brit and then Iñaki Muñoz went close.

Fightback over
However, the fightback ended on 55 minutes when Brit was sent off for contesting a corner decision. Recreativo midfielder Emilio Viqueira should have done better when shooting wide when well placed but he could breathe easier as substitute Molina fired home Recre's second goal in injury time. The club's top scorer latched on to a flick on from Javi García before beating Unzué with a shot into the far corner.