Atlético wants to heal the wounds against an excited Osasuna

Atlético wants to heal the wounds against an excited Osasuna

The rojiblancos want to forget the painful setback of the cup derby to continue subscribing to the Champions League in the face of the enthusiasm of El Sadar

MADRID, 28 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid visits Osasuna this Sunday (4:15 p.m.) at El Sadar, a duel in which they will seek to forget the defeat in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid and heal their wounds to continue their climb in the table, while the 'rojillo' team wants to take advantage of its momentum in recent weeks to become a contender for Europe.

The cupbearer derby, which Real Madrid won (3-1) after extra time, left a good impression with a great first half in which they took the lead with a sensational play that Álvaro Morata finished off. However, although he had options to sentence, Atlético decided to protect themselves and ended up paying for it, in an extra time that they played with ten due to the expulsion of Stefan Savic.

Although the model already established with that 4-4-2 that can mutate into a defense of three centrals is not too touched, the morale and spirit of the colchoneros are, who see how in January they run out of lives in all competitions . In 2022 they said goodbye to the 'Champions' and the Europa League, two setbacks as unexpected as they were painful, and now they have also let their only lifeline escape in the form of a Copa del Rey trophy, a tournament in which they have not reached the semifinals since the campaign 2016-2017.

And it seems unlikely that the League champions in 2020-2021 will be able to lift the title again this season, with an irregularity that has condemned them to be fighting not to lose their alternative status. The rojiblancos are currently fourth with 31 points, 13 and 10 behind leaders Barça and Real Madrid, respectively, and seven behind Real Sociedad. In addition, they have one more game than Betis (28), sixth and their main rival for that current fourth place.

After the break, Atlético experienced a notable improvement that was transferred to the results, with three wins in a row. However, the subsequent defeat against FC Barcelona made the ghosts of the beginning of the season return and they repeated the setback in Almería (1-1). The colchoneros come from adding a valuable victory (3-0) against Valladolid, although with the feeling that Simeone continues without hitting the key, in a somewhat disoriented team and without the forcefulness in the two areas of previous times.

Atlético will visit Pamplona with the only confirmed loss of Marcos Llorente, due to an adductor strain, while José María Giménez, already recovered, and Stefan Savic, after serving a suspension, will be able to jump to El Sadar.

Both could form a central pair, to the detriment of Mario Hermoso, although the line of four defenders seems too established, with Nahuel Molina and Reinildo on the rails. Fatigue could make room for Yannick Carrasco or Memphis Depay, substitutes against Real Madrid.

But Atleti will have one of the worst rivals at present, since they will have to start a new mental reconstruction against an Osasuna that arrives very excited. The 'rojillo' team is experiencing one of its best weeks in recent weeks, after qualifying for the Copa del Rey semifinals 18 years later. He hadn't done it since 2005, when he was runner-up.

El Sadar was a party this Wednesday against Sevilla in the Cup and the Navarrese team wants to put the finishing touch on it with a win against Atleti to assault the European positions and show that their season 'is serious'. Jagoba Arrasate's men -with almost 200 games on the Pamplona bench-, already converted into the revelation team of the season, have sustained a solid project and a clear identity that allows Osasuna and its fans to dream.

The entity believes that this year it can aspire to much more than permanence, already in the pocket, after adding 28 points in 18 League games to place seventh in the table, just three units from the 'Champions'. His model leaves no flourishes and offensive excesses, since they have only scored 18 goals, but his supportive and staunch defense, in addition to his strength at home -the second best venue after Barça- becomes a weighty argument to believe.

They will receive Atlético with the confirmed losses of Rubén Peña and Nacho Vidal, who are still between cotton. Aimar Oroz ended up somewhat touched and could be a substitute, in a midfield that Lucas Torró, Darko Brasanac and Moi Gómez are aiming to form. 'Chimy' Ávila -player who opens the can the most in all of Europe (6)- will finally be able to play by withdrawing his fifth yellow card, in a lead that Abde and Ante Budimir would complete.

OSASUNA: Aitor; Moreno, David Garcia, Aridane, Manu Sanchez; Torro, Brasanac, Moi Gomez; 'Chimy' Avila, Budimir and Abde.

ATHLETIC MADRID: Oblak; Molina, Savic, Hermoso, Reinildo; Kondogbia, Barrios, Koke, Lemar; Griezmann and Morata.

--REFEREE: Alberola Rojas (C. Castellano-La Mancha)

--STADIUM: El Sadar.

--TIME: 4:15 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.