Relentless Atletico Claim Liga Lead With Win Over Osasuna
With a 1-0 victory over Osasuna on Sunday, Juan Alvarez’s strike helped Atletico Madrid advance to the top of La Liga.
At the halfway point of the Spanish league season, Diego Simeone’s team moved one point clear of Real Madrid and six points clear of third-placed Barcelona.
Atletico claimed a 14th consecutive victory across all competitions, a new club record, and have lost just one top-flight game all season.
Simeone’s side returned to their poor defense for their eighth straight league victory and fifth clean sheet.
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With several regular starters on the bench, including Ante Budimir, Atletico’s top scorer, the Osasuna side, did well.
Antoine Griezmann had an early goal ruled out for handball, while his strike-partner Alvarez missed Atletico’s best chances of the first half.
The clearest came when Rodrigo De Paul scooped a pass over the top for the Argentina international, but Alvarez’s effort, which bounced awkwardly off his shoulder, was saved by Sergio Herrera.
Vicente Moreno’s visitors, 11th, improved as the first half progressed and managed to keep Atletico largely at bay.
However, a clever Rojiblancos corner routine helped them break the deadlock early in the second half.
Clement Lenglet nodded Griezmann’s whipped cross to the back post into the danger area, and Alvarez scored from close range to earn his sixth league goal since leaving Manchester City in the summer.
Although Osasuna didn’t challenge Jan Oblak, Atletico had more than enough to win the title and keep them at their best.
Source: Channels TV
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