Saúl lifts Atlético in El Sadar

Saúl lifts Atlético in El Sadar

Simeone's men surpass Osasuna to settle in fourth place and leave behind the painful elimination from the Cup

MADRID, 29 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid has settled in fourth position in LaLiga Santander after winning this Sunday, with a solitary goal from Saúl Ñíguez in the second half, against Osasuna in El Sadar (0-1), three points that allow them to defend their 'Champions' position and leave behind the painful elimination from the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid.

A magnificent through pass from the Argentine Rodrigo de Paul was used by the midfielder from Elche to stand alone against Aitor Fernández and score the only goal of the afternoon in Pamplona. With this, Diego Pablo Simeone's men added their second consecutive victory in the domestic competition and reached 34 points at the start of the second round.

With two novelties regarding the cup derby, the 'Cholo' opted to put José María Giménez in for Stefan Savic and to introduce Pablo Barrios instead of Morata to advance the position of Antoine Griezmann, who shared a pair with Ángel Correa; The young midfielder, who became a first-team player on Monday and renewed until 2028, was about to surprise in the first minutes with a filtered pass to Thomas Lemar that Diego Moreno cut off.

Meanwhile, Manu Sánchez and Abde tried to do damage on the left wing, although without excessive danger. It was Atlético who got the closest to the opposing goal, especially in an action in the 25th minute in which Giménez headed in a corner kick from Griezmann and the ball went licking the crossbar.

Barrios, with a high shot, and Reinildo, with his head over the crossbar, also warned the Navarrese, who responded with a shot from outside the area by Pablo Ibáñez that Jan Oblak blocked without any problems just before the break.

The game rose in intensity as soon as the players returned from the changing rooms, in a first half that Antoine Griezmann opened with a cross shot that Aitor Fernández saved in two stages when Correa was already preparing to take advantage of the rebound. Just a few minutes later, the Frenchman tried again on a volley that went high.

The initial scare stretched Osasuna, who had the clearest chance so far in a header from 'Chimy' Ávila that brushed the crossbar, before a triple substitution of Jagoba Arrasate -Budimir, Moncayola and Brasanac for 'Chimy' Ávila, Rubén García and Pablo Ibáñez- who put one more march to the local team.

In the 63rd minute, Abde hung a ball to the far post that Moi Gómez managed to connect, but Oblak, using his reflexes, disrupted the very clear option of the rojillos. Moncayola, who had entered the pitch shortly before, took advantage of the mattress confusion to hook a shot from the front that went near the right post.

Another saving hand from the Slovenian goalkeeper preceded the play of the rojiblanco goal, after halfway through the second half; Rodrigo de Paul put in a great long pass to uncheck Saúl Ñíguez, who stood up to Aitor and defined down with his right leg (min.74).

The siege of the 'Cholo' increased and the work accumulated for the goalkeeper of the Navarrese team, who saved with his face a chopped shot from Griezmann in minute 79 and only a minute later stretched to avoid the headed goal from Gimenez. Already in 85, it was Moncayola who put his leg in to cut off a very dangerous last pass from Morata to Carrasco.

Those from Arrasate, however, fought for the tie until the end, but neither Budimir's high header nor Moncayola's shot from the edge prevented the three points from vanishing from El Sadar.

--RESULT: OSASUNA, 0 - ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (0-0, at halftime).

OSASUNA: Aitor Fernandez; Diego Moreno (Kike García, min.78), Aridane, David García, Manu Sánchez; Moi Gómez, Lucas Torró, Pablo Ibáñez (Darko Brasanac, min.60); Rubén García (Moncayola, min.60), 'Chimy' Ávila (Budimir, min.60) and Abde (Kike Barja, min.78).

MADRID ATHLETIC: Oblak; Molina, Giménez, Hermoso, Reinildo; Pablo Barrios (Saúl Ñíguez, min.65), Koke (Kondogbia, min.87), De Paul (Witsel, min.87), Lemar (Carrasco, min.46); Griezmann y Correa (Morata, min.65).

0-1, min.74: Saúl Ñíguez.

--REFEREE: Alberola Rojas (C.Spanish-Manchego). Warned Darko Brasanac (min.70) for Osasuna.

--STADIUM: El Sadar.