Better call Saul as Atletico stutter past Osasuna
It was a cagey affair for a game so crucial to the top-four race, but that can be expected when Atletico Madrid are involved.
Osasuna looked to play their way into the game, but the ever-solid Atleti back four gave them little room to work with. Abde Ezzalzouli was lively down the left-hand side for Los Rojillos, but the final ball was lacking on a few occasions.
An opening goal was not out of the question for the Pamplona-based side, but they were being made to work for it.
The home side continued to push for the opener in the second half, and looked for all the world to have that chance 10 minutes in.
Ezequiel Avila leapt above the Atleti defence to connect with a header, but his fizzing effort from close range went narrowly over the bar to spare the visitors blushes.
The chances continued to fall to the hosts, as just over the hour mark Abde picked out Moi Gomez at the back post, but his side-footed volley was well saved by Jan Oblak.
While Osasuna looked like the heavy favourites to snatch a late winner, they stunned the boisterous crowd inside the El Sadar with 15 minutes remaining.
In some style, Saul Niguez was played in behind the hosts’ defence by Rodrigo De Paul, and the midfielder stabbed home to grab an unlikely lead for Atleti.
Osasuna will be bitterly disappointed not to take something from the game having been the better team for the majority of the proceedings.
However, the result may not come as a shock to the Osasuna faithful, as they have now lost nine straight games against Atleti, failing to score in all of them.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid)