Match report: Almada returns in style against Osasuna | OneFootball

A hugely important home win for Atlético de Madrid against a stubborn Osasuna, who ultimately yielded at the Metropolitano. The three points earned by the rojiblancos felt vital for Cholo Simeone’s men, after the international break and the slip-up against Celta, following a good run of results in the League and the Champions League.

The game began with the aim of getting back to winning ways and aware of other rivals’ results (Barça’s last-gasp win over Girona), with the welcome news of Josema Giménez starting after a long injury layoff dating back to the Club World Cup. Lenglet’s red card in Vigo also proved decisive in setting the date for the Uruguayan’s return.

We saw a very attack-minded Atlético, creating plenty from the outset, with Álex Baena as the brains of the rojiblanco attack—another player returning to the starting XI after a spell out. It was the Almería native who would net the first goal in the ninth minute, when the spider linked up with Baena bursting into the box, breaking lines and finishing to perfection. But our joy was short-lived: the VAR alerted referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea to check for a possible interference by Griezmann on Boyomo. While the Frenchman was indeed offside, he did not interfere in the play. Boyomo attempted to defend in a direction opposite to Julián Álvarez’s pass to Baena. Nevertheless, interference was called and therefore offside, to the indignation of Simeone, the entire team, and the Metropolitano.

The unjust decision didn’t deflate the team and, although the Navarre side tested Oblak a couple of times, the truth is Atlético dominated and could have scored on several occasions, such as in the 16th minute with a spectacular combination between Baena and Barrios that ended with a point-blank effort from Griezmann, only for Herrera, the visitors’ goalkeeper, to produce a miraculous save. There were other fine combination plays from Atlético de Madrid, with backheels from Baena looking for Julián, or Giuliano’s runs to the byline to try to pick out teammates in clear scoring positions.

But the most notable incident of the first half, apart from Baena’s disallowed goal, was an injury to Nico González, a concussion after a clash between the Argentine and Torró. He didn’t leave the game immediately after that incident, but he never fully recovered and had to come off in the 42nd minute, making way for his compatriot Giuliano.

THE SECOND HALF BROUGHT THE GOAL AND THE SUFFERING

After the break, two players stood out above the rest, being highly decisive in the final result: Thiago Almada in attack, as the scorer of the game’s only goal, and Jan Oblak as the team’s savior in the final moments, ensuring the three points stayed at the Metropolitano.

With Osasuna penned back, Simeone brought on Sørloth for Griezmann and Gallagher for Koke. After the changes, the rojiblancos maintained control and kept creating chances, like in the 57th minute when Llorente burst inside again, linked up with Julián who struck across goal, drawing another fine save from Herrera. Another chance for Giménez and yet another for Sørloth were the preludes to Thiago Almada’s goal, who had come on for Baena, in the 68th minute. Giuliano broke down the right and his cut-back found his Argentine teammate, with Almada’s goal tilting the balance in Atlético’s favor.

A goal and a win not without emotion, nerves, and a new Oblak miracle at the Metropolitano. This time it was Budimir who poked it from close range, only for the Slovenian keeper to shine with his foot, thwarting the chance created by Moi Gómez at the start of the move and Budimir with his finish. In the end, a classic one-nil and three vital points that help us grow, believe, and strengthen ourselves for what’s to come next. Which, by the way, is the Champions League, in London against Arsenal… quite a challenge (one more for the team).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.