Aimar Oroz converted a spot kick for the 74th-minute winner after Sevilla midfielder Papu Gomez had been called for a foul in the area.

Chimy Avila scored the first goal of the 2022-23 season in the ninth minute when he smashed a powerhouse header past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Rafa Mir responded for Sevilla two minutes later when he rifled in a pass to the near post by Gomez.

Both sides hit the woodwork with long shots before Oroz tilted the game the hosts' way in Pamplona.

Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui questioned the penalty, which was called after Jon Moncayola fell following a brush with Gomez.

Lopetegui said it was difficult to understand especially after Spanish referees had met with teams this summer promising to raise the bar on what constituted a penalty.

"We had a meeting recently with referees whose central argument was that they no longer would call these little penalties ... so it is difficult to understand," Lopetegui said.

"In the meeting we had they told us completely the opposite."

Sevilla finished the league in fourth place last season, qualifying for the Champions League.

But Lopetegui's squad has been weakened following the exit of Diego Carlos and Jules Kounde, who formed one of the best pairings of central defenders in the league.

Karim Rekik and Nemanja Gudelj, mostly used as backups last season, played in their place.

They settled in after a shaky start when Osasuna pressed for the opener that soon came when Avila slipped behind Gudelj to meet a cross at the far post.

New forward Alex Telles started for Sevilla. Isco Alarcon, Sevilla's star signing from Real Madrid, was left out of the squad as he gets back to full fitness.

Australian Associated Press