Atlético Madrid has achieved an important victory in the battle for a ticket to participate in the Champions League. The team of coach Diego Simeone defeated direct competitor Osasuna 1-0 in Pamplona. Memphis Depay remained on the bench for the entire game at Atlético, which was eliminated by Real Madrid in the Spanish cup tournament on Thursday.
Saúl opened the scoring in the 74th minute shortly after coming on for midfielder Pablo Barrios. Simeone had previously brought two fresh attacking forces with Yannick Carrasco and Álvaro Morata. Once in the lead – Saúl passed the excellent Osasuna goalkeeper Aitor Fernández from a beautiful pass from Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul – Simeone sent two midfielders into the field and there was no substitution for Depay. Antoine Griezmann encountered Fernández again 10 minutes before the end.
Atlético remains number 4 in La Liga with 34 points from nineteen matches, Osasuna has 28 points. Leader FC Barcelona has 47 from eighteen matches.
Source: ANP
