Atletico Madrid will attempt to extend their three-game unbeaten run when they travel to El Sadar for Thursday’s La Liga clash against Osasuna.
Meanwhile, the hosts will be looking to return to winning ways after taking just a point from their last two matches.
Match preview
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Osasuna boosted their European aspirations with a fine run of form in April, picking up three consecutive victories against Girona, Real Valladolid and Sevilla.
However, their European bid has lost momentum in their last two games, including a 4-2 defeat in their away meeting with Villarreal earlier this month.
They did at least avoid another loss in Sunday’s trip to the Benito Villamarin, with star striker Ante Budimir scoring a 75th-minute equaliser to cancel out Cucho Hernandez‘s opener in the 1-1 draw with Betis, leaving Los Rojillos in 11th position and two points adrift of the top eight.
Osasuna will now return to the familiar surroundings of El Sadar for back-to-back games against Atleti and Espanyol, before they conclude the season with a match against Alaves, knowing they need a strong finish to the campaign if they are to secure European qualification for the second time in three seasons.
Unfortunately for Osasuna, they tend to struggle in meetings with Atletico, having lost 12 of their previous 13 La Liga encounters (W1).
Their only win in that period took place at the Metropolitano in May 2024, while they have not beaten Atleti in a home match since recording a 3-0 victory in February 2014.
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Atletico Madrid may have fallen short in their title bid this season, but they have at least secured another campaign of Champions League football after they confirmed a top-five finish with a dominant 4-0 win in Saturday’s home clash with Real Sociedad.
Alexander Sorloth scored three goals inside 11 minutes to set a new record for the earliest hat-trick in La Liga, while it was the quickest hat-trick in the competition’s history, with the treble arriving in three minutes in 57 seconds.
The Norwegian went on to score the game’s fourth and final goal on the half-hour to condemn his former club to a heavy 4-0 defeat and seal a third consecutive home league win for Diego Simeone‘s side.
Having collected 70 points from 35 matches, Atleti are all but set to finish in third place for the third time in four seasons.
Atletico may have little to play for in their final three games against Osasuna, Real Betis and Girona, but they will still be keen to finish the season strongly as they look to build confidence ahead of this summer’s Club World Cup.
Los Colchoneros have won just one of their previous five away league games, but they will still fancy their chances of taking maximum points from Thursday’s match, given the fact they have won each of their last six away meetings with Osasuna, including a 2-0 victory on their most recent visit to El Sadar in September 2023.
Team News
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Osasuna midfielder Jon Moncayola remains sidelined with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last three matches.
Left-back Abel Bretones will be hoping for a recall after dropping to the bench at the weekend following a run of six consecutive starts.
Budimir will continue to lead the line for the visitors, with the striker looking to add to his 19-goal La Liga tally for the season.
Atletico forward Julian Alvarez is set to return to the starting lineup after serving a one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Alvarez could operate in a front-two pairing with Sorloth, who will surely keep his place after netting four goals at the weekend.
Rodrigo Riquelme was fit not to feature in Sunday’s matchday squad, but the winger should be available to make the bench for Thursday’s fixture.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Boyomo, Catena, Bretones; Ibanez, Torro; Ru. Garcia, Oroz, Zaragoza; Budimir
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Lino; Sorloth, Alvarez
We say: Osasuna 0-2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico have won each of their last six away meetings with Osasuna, keeping clean sheets in five of those victories.
With that in mind, we believe the visitors will enjoy another successful trip to El Sadar, especially will be buoyed by Saturday’s dominant win over Real Sociedad.
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