Atletico Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Osasuna at El Sadar on Sunday, keeping their hopes of a top-three finish in La Liga very much alive. In a tense and often ill-tempered encounter, Diego Simeone's side rode their luck at times but ultimately did enough to claim a 20th win of the campaign, moving to within three points of third-placed Villarreal with a game in hand.
The visitors took the lead after just 15 minutes when Ademola Lookman coolly slotted home a penalty. The spot-kick was awarded following a VAR review after Antoine Griezmann's clever lob into the box forced Javi Galan to handle the ball — an infringement missed by the referee in real time but clear on replay. Lookman's precise finish into the corner gave Atletico an early advantage they would never fully relinquish.
Osasuna responded with real determination, pushing Atletico back and creating several dangerous moments. The home side thought they had earned a penalty of their own deep into first-half stoppage time when Juan Musso came out to punch a cross and appeared to catch Ante Budimir. Referee Jose Luis Guzman Mansilla pointed to the spot, but once again VAR intervened, correctly overturning the decision after seeing no excessive contact. It was a huge let-off for the visitors, who looked rattled going into the break.
Musso, who has displaced Jan Oblak as Atletico's first-choice goalkeeper in recent weeks, was outstanding throughout the match. The Argentine made a series of crucial saves, showing sharp reflexes to deny Budimir and others, and commanded his area well. His only blemish came in the dying moments when Kike Barja fired home from close range, but by then the game was effectively won.
Simeone's game management came to the fore after the interval. With the contest still in the balance, he introduced supersub Alexander Sorloth just past the hour mark, and the Norwegian giant made an instant impact. In the 71st minute, Marcos Llorente delivered a looping cross to the far post, and Sorloth simply had to bundle the ball over the line to double the lead. It was a classic Simeone move — direct, efficient, and ruthlessly executed.
However, the narrative took a darker turn for Atletico when Llorente, already on a yellow card from the 52nd minute, received a second booking in the 79th minute for a late challenge. The dismissal means the versatile Spaniard will miss the next league fixture through suspension, a significant blow given his recent form and versatility. Atletico were forced to see out the final stages with ten men, but their defensive organisation held firm enough.
The clean sheet was spoiled by Barja's consolation in the first minute of added time, a strike that briefly gave Osasuna hope of an unlikely point. Musso was finally beaten from close quarters, but there was little he could do about the finish. The goal was nothing more than a footnote on an evening where Atletico's resilience shone through.
This win halted a worrying slide for Atletico, who had lost five of their last seven league matches before this trip. That run had seen them slip away from the title race and put their Champions League qualification hopes in jeopardy. Now, with Barcelona crowned champions and Real Madrid secure in second, the fight for the remaining podium place is a three-way battle between Villarreal, Atletico, and perhaps others, but Simeone's men have the momentum — and crucially, a game in hand.
The performance was far from vintage Atletico. There were sloppy moments in possession, and they rode the fine margins of VAR decisions. Yet winning ugly has long been a hallmark of Simeone's tenure. On nights like this, when the team digs deep and finds a way, the character of the squad is reaffirmed. The coach will know there is much to improve, but three points were all that mattered.
Looking ahead, Atletico face a critical run of fixtures. With Llorente suspended, others will need to step up. The return to form of players like Griezmann, who was influential in the build-up play, and the impact of substitutes like Sorloth offer encouragement. If Musso continues his assured displays between the posts, the goalkeeping transition from Oblak could become surprisingly smooth.
For Osasuna, this defeat ended a recent upturn in form and leaves them mid-table with little to play for. They will rue the disallowed penalty and the missed opportunities, but they tested a top side and pushed them to the limit. Manager Jagoba Arrasate can take pride in the fight his team showed.
As the season enters its final stages, Atlético Madrid's capacity to grind out results under pressure remains undimmed. The chase for third place is now firmly in their hands, and with the character displayed in Pampelune, few would bet against them securing a Champions League return. Based on reporting from L'Equipe.
