Goals from Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme on Thursday earned Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win over CA Osasuna in a bad-tempered La Liga encounter which ended with both teams reduced to 10 men.
Atletico, who have a game in hand, moved up to fifth place in the standings on 13 points, six behind surprise leaders Girona. Real Madrid are second on 18 points, one ahead of champions Barcelona.
Roared on by their fans at a sold-out Estadio El Sadar, Osasuna started well and almost scored with a strike from the edge of the penalty area by Lucas Torro that flew just wide.
Photo: AFP
However, Atletico hit back through Griezmann, who was quick to react to a rebound after Osasuna goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez failed to hold on to Samuel Lino’s cross. Griezmann rifled a close-range strike into the net.
Osasuna remained the dominant side and almost scored in the 37th minute when left winger Johan Mojica dibbled past two defenders before unleashing a bullet strike off the near post.
The hosts created several chances, with Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak making a brilliant save to deny a point-blank strike from Torro in the 66th minute.
Tensions boiled over after Osasuna manager Jagoba Arrasate was shown a red card for arguing with the referee when David Garcia’s goal was ruled out in the 75th minute.
Atletico scored from a quick counterattack led by fullback Samuel Lino.
The Brazilian played a superb pass through to substitute Riquelme, who beat onrushing goalkeeper Fernandez and slotted into an empty net.
Four minutes later, Atletico’s Alvaro Morata and Osasuna’s Chimy Avila were also sent off following a clash.
“Every time we play here is a complex situation... It feels like the game will never end,” Atletico manager Diego Simeone told DAZN. “We ended winning more comfortably than we probably should thanks to a counterattack, but I don’t think the score reflects what really happened. It was an important and tough win, and we need some rest.”
Elsewhere, Real Betis Balompie’s winless run reached four matches in all competitions after a 1-1 draw at second-to-last-placed Granada, who were coming off three consecutive losses.
Assane Diao put the visitors ahead in the 51st minute, before Granada’s Lucas Boye equalized in the 67th.
RC Celta de Vigo remained on the edge of the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at home against Deportivo Alaves.
The hosts opened the scoring with an own-goal by Rafael Marin in the 35th minute and Alaves equalized through Samuel Omorodion in the 73rd.
Celta, who had no shots on target, played with 10 men after Luca de la Torre was sent off in the 68th minute.
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