Early Osasuna strikes sink Atleti

Atletico Madrid arrived at El Sadar after winning in the Champions League last Wednesday at the San Siro in Milan thanks to a goal by Diego Costa. Simeone decided to introduce some changes in the team relative to the game in Italy, bringing on Filipe Luis, Diego and Adrian instead of Insua, Arda Turan and Raul Garcia.

But the match was not how Atletico Madrid expected. Diego had the first scoring chance in the third minute. However he was unable to convert it and not long after the home side took the lead from a corner kick to the far post turned in by Cejudo making it 1-0 after just 5 minutes.

The worst was yet to come as the team was slow to react and Armenteros soon made it 2 with an impeccable left-footed shot from outside the area to which flew past Courtois. After this goal Atletico Madrid began to get involved in the game threatening the goal of Andrés Fernández. In the 26th minute Villa played in Diego Costa who’s shot was close.

But it was not Atletico’s day and the killer blow came just before the break when Damiá crossed for Torres to make it 3-0 with the head. Immediately afterwards Filipe Luis crossed for Villa but he could turn it in.

At half Simeone decided to bring on Koke for Mario Suarez trying to turn the game around. But Osasuna were in full control of the game. Arda Turan and Raul Garcia were the other two changes replacing Diego and Villa and the truth is that the best opportunities came in the final stretch of the game but they were unable to get the goal they deserved.

Defeat in Pamplona against Osasuna was a big blow but the only positive is that none of the five players on 4 yellow cards will miss the derby against Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.