Atletico Madrid beat Osasuna 1-0 in La Liga on Saturday.©AFP
Julian Alvarez’s strike helped Atletico Madrid go top of La Liga with a 1-0 win over Osasuna on Sunday. Diego Simeone’s side moved one point clear of champions Real Madrid and six ahead of third-placed Barcelona at the halfway point of the Spanish league season. Atletico secured a 14th consecutive victory in all competitions, a new club record, and have lost just one top-flight match all season. It was their eighth consecutive league victory and fifth clean sheet in those matches, with Simeone’s side returning to their defensive best. Atletico started well against an Osasuna side with several regular starters on the bench, including their top scorer, striker Ante Budimir.
Antoine Griezmann had an early goal disallowed for handball, while his strike partner Alvarez missed Atletico’s best chances in the first half.
The clearest came when Rodrigo De Paul collected an overhand pass for the Argentina international, but Alvarez’s effort, which bounced awkwardly off his shoulder, was saved by Sergio Herrera.
Vicente Moreno’s 11th-placed visitors improved as the first half progressed and managed to largely keep Atletico at bay.
However, early in the second half, a smart corner from the Rojiblancos helped them break the deadlock.
Griezmann’s whipped cross to the back post was turned back into the danger zone by Clement Lenglet and Alvarez managed to score from close range for his sixth league goal since arriving last summer from Manchester City.
Atletico were not at their best but had more than enough to seal another win and take top spot, with Osasuna failing to trouble Jan Oblak.
Earlier, Getafe secured a 2-1 victory at Las Palmas to climb three points above the relegation zone.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
