Atlético measures its euphoria in a ‘comfortable’ Sadar
The rojiblancos arrive full of joy after the victory in the derby and want to extend their good moment against Osasuna, one of their favorite rivals
MADRID, 27 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid visits CA Osasuna this Thursday (9:30 p.m.) on the seventh day of LaLiga EA Sports 2023-2024, a duel to which the rojiblancos arrive spurred and with a high level of euphoria after forcefully beating Real Madrid in the derby, while the Navarrese team, without winning in the last month, needs a coup d’état in its fiefdom, where however it has only won 2 of the last 10 direct confrontations.
After the resounding defeat (3-0) at Mestalla and the painful draw (1-1) in the last second against Lazio in the Champions League, the red and white needed a peaceful victory in a match of the stature of a derby. Simeone’s pupils were excellent in one of their best versions of the season, very effective, with clear ideas, and delving into the fateful defensive errors and merengue disconnections, to clearly win (3-1) in the duel at the Metropolitano.
The victory over Real Madrid allowed them to extend the good mattress streak at the Metropolitano, where they have already had 11 wins, but this Thursday they visit a fiefdom with which they also have a great love affair. And Atleti have achieved 8 victories, 5 of them consecutive (with a cumulative score of 15-1), in their last 10 visits to El Sadar, a venue that is already ‘comfortable’ for the ‘Cholo’ team, converted already a ‘black beast’ for Osasuna.
With one game less and after righting their course in the derby, the rojiblancos are fifth in the table with 10 points (3W, 1E and 1L), so they hope to make good on the victory against Real Madrid by adding another three points that will give them allow them to close the distance with the leaders and gain cruising speed.
To achieve this, it is key to improve away data because, although their performance in Pamplona is positive, irregularity has been the dominant note in the Colchoneros’ recent outings. And they only have one victory, a crushing 0-7 in Vallecas, in the last seven away games in all competitions.
However, his best moment in the competition coincides with a red and white infirmary packed with the injured Reinildo, Barrios, Lemar, Rodrigo de Paul, Caglar Söyüncü, Ángel Correa and Memphis Depay. Thus, ‘Cholo’ will be forced to make few rotations and include Witsel or Giménez in a defense that would feature Azpilicueta as a center back alongside Hermoso.
There are no doubts in the left lane, where Samu Lino has already settled, having put in an outstanding performance against Real Madrid, and who is Simeone’s favorite to replace the departure of Yannick Carrasco. Given the casualties in the midfield, Koke, Marcos Llorente and Saúl Ñíguez would repeat in El Sadar, with some in tune Álvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann in attack.
OSASUNA WANTS TO AVOID THE DANGEROUS AREA BEFORE ITS ‘BLACK BEAST’
For its part, Osasuna continues without fuel in an irregular domestic start with only two wins – against Celta (0-2) and Valencia (1-2) – both far from El Sadar, which this season is not the fortress that the Navarrese expected , with three defeats and a draw as a sad balance at home so far this year in all competitions.
And the setback against Belgian club Bruges that left them out of the Conference League at the end of August hit hard a team excited about the new season. Since then, two defeats against Barça (1-2) and Getafe (3-2) and a gray 0-0 draw against Sevilla at home as a precedent prior to Atlético de Madrid’s visit to Pamplona.
The ‘red’ fans will have a primary role in helping their team recover that solidity and character that identified the Navarrese team last year. Without so much efficiency or such clear ideas, Jagoba Arrasate’s men need to meet again with the most seasoned and forceful version of him, to begin to build the comeback in the table based on victories. The Navarrese are twelfth with only 7 points out of a possible 24.
Arrasate confirmed in the preview that he will put his best eleven against the rojiblancos, so no radical changes are expected in the eleven. Moncayola returned to the squad, although he is aiming for the bench, so Brasanac and Unai García are the only casualties. In addition, Moi Gómez will be in the game after resting against Sevilla, in an attack alongside Budimir and ‘Chimy’ Ávila. Areso, Kike Barja or Rubén García are also waiting their turn.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
CA OSASUNA: Aitor Fernández; Rubén Peña, Catena, David García, Juan Cruz; Muñoz, Torró, Oroz; ‘Chimy’ Ávila, Budimir and Moi Gómez.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Molina, Azpilicueta, Giménez, Hermoso, Lino; Llorente, Koke, Saúl; Morata and Griezmann.
–REFEREE: Martinez Munuera (C.Valenciano).
–STADIUM: El Sadar.