Atletico Madrid continued their pursuit of a top-three finish in LaLiga with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Osasuna on Sunday evening, but it was far from a vintage performance from Diego Simeone’s side. Despite taking an early lead and doubling it in the second half, a late red card for Marcos Llorente and a stoppage-time goal from Kike Barja made for a nervy finale as the visitors held on to claim all three points. The win moves Atletico to within three points of Villarreal with a game in hand, keeping their podium ambitions alive in a campaign that has often fallen short of expectations.
Juan Musso, deputising in goal for the injured Jan Oblak, played a pivotal role in preserving the lead for long stretches. The Argentine goalkeeper produced a string of crucial saves, most notably to deny Ante Budimir when the Osasuna striker seemed certain to equalise. Musso’s alertness and command of his area have been a quiet strength for Atletico in recent weeks, and his performance at El Sadar underlined why Simeone has placed his trust in the understudy. However, he was finally beaten in the 91st minute when Barja fired home from close range, ending his hopes of a clean sheet but not the victory.
The game’s opening goal came after 15 minutes when Ademola Lookman coolly converted a penalty. The spot-kick was awarded following a VAR review after Antoine Griezmann had flicked the ball over Javi Galan, whose trailing hand blocked the ball inside the area. Referee José Luis Guzman Mansilla initially missed the infringement but was called to the monitor and pointed to the spot. Lookman stepped up and buried his effort into the bottom corner, giving Atletico an early advantage against the run of play.
Osasuna responded strongly to falling behind and thought they had been handed a lifeline deep into first-half stoppage time when Mansilla pointed to the penalty spot again, this time for a foul by Musso on a high ball. The home crowd erupted, but once more VAR intervened and the decision was overturned, with replays showing that Musso had made negligible contact. It was a reprieve for Atletico, and manager Simeone could be seen animatedly urging his players to tighten up as they went in at the break with their lead intact.
The second half saw Atletico initially content to absorb pressure, a classic Simeone blueprint when protecting a lead. Osasuna pressed for an equaliser, but the visitors’ defensive discipline held firm. Then, in the 71st minute, substitute Alexander Sorloth delivered the decisive blow. Marcus Llorente, who had replaced the injured Nahuel Molina, swung a looping cross to the far post where the towering Norwegian simply had to guide the ball into the empty net. It was Sorloth’s second league goal since his January move from Real Sociedad and highlighted his value as an impact substitute.
The joy of the second goal was short-lived, however, as Llorente’s evening took a sour turn. Booked in the 52nd minute for a clumsy challenge, he was given a second yellow card and his marching orders in the 79th minute after a tug on an opponent’s shirt. The dismissal left Atletico to see out the final 11 minutes plus added time with ten men, a task made all the more difficult by Osasuna’s renewed energy. Simeone reacted by shoring up the midfield, bringing on Geoffrey Kondogbia to add steel and sacrificing attacking threat for defensive solidity.
Osasuna threw everything forward in the closing stages, and their pressure told in the first minute of stoppage time. A loose ball inside the Atletico box fell to Barja, who lashed a half-volley past Musso from eight yards. Suddenly the home side had hope, and El Sadar roared. The final minutes were fraught with tension, as Osasuna launched hopeful balls into the mixer, but Atletico’s backline, marshalled by José María Giménez, stood firm to see out the contest.
This win was a much-needed response after a concerning run of form that had seen Atletico lose five of their previous seven league games. That slump had all but ended their title ambitions and raised questions about Simeone’s future. Yet with Barcelona already crowned champions and Real Madrid guaranteed the runners-up spot, the focus has shifted to securing third place and a direct Champions League group-stage berth. Sunday’s result positions them well, just three points adrift of Villarreal with an extra match to play.
The match statistics told a story of Osasuna’s wastefulness and Musso’s excellence. The hosts registered 15 shots to Atletico’s 6 and enjoyed 58 per cent possession, but only a handful of those efforts truly troubled the goalkeeper. Simeone’s side showed their trademark grit, winning physical battles and frustrating Jagoba Arrasate’s team. It was a performance that lacked flair but demonstrated the stubborn resilience that has defined the Argentine’s tenure at the club.
Looking ahead, Atletico have a run of fixtures that could define their season. With games against mid-table opponents and a direct clash with Villarreal still to come, they control their destiny. Simeone, no stranger to adversity, will draw on the spirit shown in Pamplona to rally his squad. “We have to suffer, and today we suffered,” the coach might reflect, echoing his familiar philosophy. The red card to Llorente will mean a suspension, forcing a reshuffle in midfield for the next outing.
For Osasuna, the defeat dents their aspirations of a top-seven finish but does not derail them. Arrasate’s team have been one of the season’s revelations and remain in the hunt for European qualification. They will rue the disallowed penalty and their inability to convert possession into goals. The defeat was harsh, but the performance showed why they have been so tough to beat at home all campaign.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.
