[2][3][4] Born in Huarte, Navarre,[5] Puñal played his entire professional career with CA Osasuna save for two on-loan seasons at Madrid's CD Leganés, in the Segunda División.

[7] Puñal returned to the El Sadar Stadium as an undisputed first choice, scoring his first La Liga goal on 27 October 2001 in a 4–0 home win over RCD Mallorca.

On 29 November 2006, as the side went on to reach the last-four in the UEFA Cup,[9] Puñal scored three goals (one in his net) in a 3–1 home defeat of Odense Boldklub in the group stage.

[11] From 2007 to 2010, veteran Puñal continued to figure prominently for Osasuna, featuring in exactly 100 league games – scoring twice through penalties, in a 2–0 win at Getafe CF[12] and a 2–1 home loss to Real Madrid,[13] both goals coming during 2007–08 – and also being the captain after the retirement of César Cruchaga.

He obtained the record after his 464th overall appearance on 21 October, against Real Betis,[15] and on 26 May 2013 he again entered the team's history books, netting from 30 meters and contributing to a 2–1 home victory over Sevilla FC which certified permanence in the top division for another year, with one game remaining.