Pamplona, Jan 29 (EFE).- Atlético de Madrid defeated Osasuna at El Sadar thanks to a solitary goal by Saúl Ñíguez that unleashed a clash with few chances and in which the colchoneros recovered their smile after their cup elimination.
With the League for all its objectives and the echoes of the controversial cup derby still resonating, Atlético achieved a valuable victory against a team that had not lost so far this year, guided by the best Rodrigo de Paul of the course, with the first goal Saúl’s rojiblanco in two years and with a successful Jan Oblak when he demanded the local push.
The initial pressure from Atlético was offset by the calm of an Osasuna with morale through the roof after their move to the Copa del Rey semifinals against Sevilla. The respect between the two teams was evident during the first half, in which Giménez had the best chance, heading in from a corner kick.
On the local side, Pablo Ibáñez was the highlight with appropriate passes and at the right moment that made the colchoneros run backwards, while the rojilla defense proved reliable, cutting off the rojiblancas attacks with solvency. The tactic was above offensive football.
Osasuna jumped somewhat nervous after the break. The inaccuracies were about to play a trick on him against an Atlético team that showed greater intensity and began to reach Aitor Fernández’s goal more clearly.
The rojillo team, however, began to reach the rival goal with danger, after shaking off the athletic dominance of the first minutes. Chimy Ávila headed a good cross from Moreno that went over Oblak’s goal and Abde faced his rival on the right side to put a cross that Moi Gómez arrived to shoot with his right leg without letting the ball bounce . Oblak deflected the clearest chance so far to a corner. Moncayola gave his team another air with arrivals that caught Cholo Simeone’s team off guard.
The clash was animating at times. Moreno shot with his left foot from outside the area, finding Oblak’s hand.
However, when Atlético was going through the worst, Rodrigo de Paul saw Saúl’s clearing of his mask perfectly, assisting him with a perfect pass that left the midfielder alone against Aitor Fernández, whom he beat with a powerful shot, in the 74th minute.
Shortly after, Griezmann stood alone in front of the goalkeeper to score 0-2, but he ran into the face of Aitor Fernández, whom he tried to get past, and a shot from Morata was thwarted in the small area by the rear rojilla when Carrasco was preparing to finish off at will.
Witsel and Kondogbia came on in the final minutes to tie up the victory in the final minutes in which Osasuna besieged the rival goal, with crosses into the area from the wings, but with little aim in the shots, which did not prevent Simeone’s team from winning , which keeps him in Champions League positions.
– Datasheet:
0 – Osasuna: Aitor Fernández; Diego Moreno (Barja, m. 78), Aridane, David García, Manu Sánchez; Nougat; Rubén García (Moncayola, d. 60), Pablo Ibáñez (Darko, d. 60), Moi Gómez, Abde (Kike García, d. 78); Chimy Ávila (Budimir, d. 60).
1 – Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Hermoso, Reinildo; Barrios (Saúl, m. 64), Koke (Witsel, m. 87), De Paul (Kondogbia, m. 87), Lemar (Carrasco, m. 46); Griezmann, Correa (Morata, m. 64).
Goal: 0-1, m. 74: Saul.
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas (Castilian-Manchego Committee), assisted by Sobrino Magán and Hernández Ramos. and Mendez Mateo. The Andalusian referee showed Darko a yellow card from Osasuna.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the nineteenth day of LaLiga Santander played at the El Sadar stadium before 20,902 spectators.