Substitute Thiago Almada’s first goal for Atlético Madrid edged his side to a narrow LaLiga victory over Osasuna which saw them climb into the top four.
Almada’s 69th-minute strike proved decisive at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano as Atlético got the better of a side which had beaten them in two of their last three meetings 1-0 to send them into Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Arsenal in positive mood.
Diego Simeone’s men started in determined fashion with Antoine Griezmann going close twice within the opening seven minutes, and they thought they had taken a ninth-minute lead through Álex Baena, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera denied Griezmann with 16 minutes gone and although Víctor Muñoz went close from distance for the visitors and Lucas Torró forced a save from Jan Oblak, the hosts continued to threaten and Herrera had to keep out Julián Álvarez’s 31st-minute strike.
Baena and Álvarez both tested Herrera as the break approached, but the game remained goalless when the whistle sounded.
Barrios and Marcos Llorente both called upon the Osasuna goalkeeper as the second half got under way.
Herrera saved from Álvarez and José María Giménez twice headed wide before substitute Alexander Sorloth also missed the target, although Ante Budimir went close for the visitors.
Almada finally fired the hosts ahead after 69 minutes with Giuliano Simeone providing the ammunition, although Oblak had to make a fine save to keep out Budimir at the death.
Information from PA was used in this report.
