Osasuna-Atlético: final for the Champions Osasuna Atlético

With twenty games to go, Atlético has no other goal this season than to reach one of the top four positions in the Championship, a crucial objective for guarantee their economic survival next season thanks to the income derived from the Champions League. The first stop will be this afternoon (4:15 p.m.) in the sadar, a stadium in which the team has won eight of their last seven games, and with which they will close a disappointing first round.

With the sole exception of a resounding 3-0 conceded in the 13-14 season, Every time Simeone’s Atlético has visited Pamplona he has returned with the three pointss. Furthermore, his latest results leave no room for doubt: in the last four games played at El Sadar he has not only defeated Osasuna, but has scored 14 goals and only conceded one. The most recent precedent was the 0-3 loss last year, with a special role for the now absent Joao.

Osasuna, brand new Cup semifinalist, aspires to put an end to this trend today and add three points that equal Atlético with 31 in their fight for a seventh place that can open the doors to Europe if the final is played by Real Madrid and Barcelona. The team of Jagoba Arrasate hardly has casualtiesNacho Vidal y Ruben Pena– and boasts a commendable muscle that has not only moved him away from the lower zone, but also keeps him in a position very close to major milestones.

Simeone, for his part, continues without being able to count on Llorente and again it has fallen Savic, another that is habitual in the medical parts of the club. His position will be occupied gimenez, whose sanction with Uruguay does not affect him in Atlético matches. In any case, changes are expected in relation to Thursday’s clash at the Bernabéu and Memphis Depay may enjoy his first start forming a pair with a Alvaro Morata in a state of grace that has scored a goal in the last three games he has played.

Pita Alberola Rojas and given the latest events, with a statement of Gil Marin included, this is not a trivial fact. In the VAR will be Medié Jimenez to dispense justice in a party that could resurrect all the rojiblancos ghosts if Atlético suffers a new defeat, and it is that the team, after a disappointing first part of the season in which it has said goodbye to any chance of fighting for a title, is now moving on a fragile spider web and a false step will plunge it into the void.

Possible lineups:

Health: Aitor Fernández, Diego Moreno, Aridane, David García, Manu Sánchez, Torró, Moncayola, Brasanac, Moi Gómez, Chimy Ávila and Budimir.

Atlético: Oblak, Nahuel, Giménez, Hermoso, Reinildo, Kondogbia, Koke, De Paul, Griezmann, Depay and Morata.

Referees: Alberola Rojas (field) and Medié Jiménez (VAR).

Estadio: El Sadar, 4:15 p.m.