Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme netted crucial goals to secure a 2-0 triumph for Atletico Madrid against Osasuna in a heated LaLiga contest on Thursday. The game ended with both teams reduced to 10 players.
Atletico Madrid, who have a game in hand, climbed to fifth place in the LaLiga standings with 13 points, trailing the surprising leaders Girona by six points.
In front of their passionate supporters at a packed El Sadar Stadium, Osasuna made an energetic start and came close to scoring when Lucas Torró unleashed a strike from the edge of the box that narrowly missed the target.
Nevertheless, Atletico Madrid responded promptly as Antoine Griezmann capitalized on a rebound following a fumble by Osasuna goalkeeper Aitor Fernández, who failed to secure Samuel Lino’s cross. Griezmann hammered the ball into the net from close range.
Osasuna maintained their dominance and came agonizingly close to scoring in the 37th minute when left winger Johan Mojica dribbled past two defenders before striking a powerful shot that struck the near post.
The hosts fashioned numerous opportunities, with Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak making a remarkable save to thwart a close-range effort from Torro in the 66th minute.
Tensions reached a boiling point after Osasuna’s manager, Jagoba Arrasate, was shown a red card for disputing a referee’s decision when David Garcia’s goal was disallowed in the 75th minute.
Atletico Madrid then struck on a rapid counter-attack, initiated by fullback Samuel Lino. The Brazilian delivered an exquisite through ball to substitute Rodrigo Riquelme, who outpaced the advancing goalkeeper Fernandez and calmly slotted the ball into an unguarded net.
Just four minutes later, the match witnessed more red cards as Atletico’s Álvaro Morata and Osasuna’s Chimy Ávila were both sent off following an altercation.