In a gritty encounter at El Sadar, Atlético Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-2 victory over Osasuna on Matchday 36 of LaLiga EA Sports, but the win came at a steep price. Diego Simeone's side navigated a match filled with stoppages, injuries, and refereeing drama to return to winning ways, though they had to hold on for dear life in one of Spain's most intimidating stadiums.
The afternoon got off to a rocky start for the Rojiblancos. Before the 20-minute mark, defender Mendoza was forced off with a muscle injury, paving the way for Le Normand to enter the fray. Shortly after, VAR intervened to award a penalty for a handball by Javi GalĂĄn, and Antoine Griezmann stepped up coolly to slot home the opener. Osasuna responded with vigor, and Budimir had a golden chance to equalize after a costly error from Koke, but the Croatian striker somehow missed from close range, leaving the home crowd in disbelief.
The second half saw a tactical masterstroke from Simeone, as the introduction of Alexander Sorloth proved decisive. The Norwegian striker made it 0-2 in the 71st minute with a powerful finish that seemed to put the game beyond doubt. However, the complexion of the match shifted dramatically when Marcos Llorente was shown a second yellow card in the 79th minute for a foul on Aimar Oroz, leaving Atlético to play the final stretch with ten men.
Down a man, AtlĂ©tico dug deep. Goalkeeper Musso produced a crucial save to deny Budimir's header, keeping the lead intact until Kike Barja pulled one back in the 91st minute, setting up a tense finale. Despite a late penalty appeal for a challenge on Budimir that the referee waved away, Atleti held firm to claim all three points. The victory boosts their push for a top-four finish, but the cost is significant: Mendoza's injury and Llorente's suspension will leave them shorthanded for the crucial clash against Girona next week. For fans, it's a reminder that in the heat of a LaLiga battle, every point comes with a price tagâand sometimes, it's a heavy one.