Atlético Madrid edge past Osasuna to take top spot in La Liga

Atlético Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over CA Osasuna in La Liga, marking their 12th win in the last 13 head-to-head meetings between the two sides. The win propelled Atlético to the top of the La Liga table, overtaking Real Madrid. The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams creating scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Atlético thought they had taken the lead in the seventh minute, but Antoine Griezmann’s goal was ruled out for handball. Despite this setback, the home team continued to press, with Julián Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone both coming close to scoring. Osasuna, however, were not without their chances, and Pablo Ibáñez and Jorge Herrando both had opportunities to score.

The second half saw Atlético introduce Samuel Lino, who was quickly involved in the action. The breakthrough finally came when a corner routine resulted in Griezmann’s cross being nodded back by Clément Lenglet for Alvarez to finish into the gaping net. Lenglet was instrumental in Atlético’s victory, also making crucial interventions to deny Osasuna’s Raúl García and Ibáñez clear sights of goal.

Despite their best efforts, Osasuna were unable to find an equalizer, and Atlético held on to secure their 14th consecutive win across all competitions. The victory marked a significant milestone for Diego Simeone’s side, who have now taken top spot in La Liga.

In contrast, Osasuna’s defeat marked their seventh consecutive league match without a win, and their second consecutive loss. The team will be looking to turn their fortunes around in their next match.

Elsewhere, Real Sociedad is looking to bounce back from a disappointing start to the La Liga season when they host Villarreal on Monday. The team has struggled to find consistency, with only four wins in their last 18 games, and is currently sitting outside the top six. 

Despite their struggles, Real Sociedad has shown glimpses of their potential, particularly in their 1-0 win over Barcelona late last year. The team has also been solid at home, with a five-match unbeaten run (W4, D1) at the Anoeta Stadium. However, they will need to produce some of their best football of the season to bridge the deficit to fifth-placed Villarreal.