Just two days after dismantling Real Sociedad 3-0 away from home, Atletico Madrid return to the Metropolitano looking to back it up against an Osasuna side that has lost its last two. Diego Simeone’s team sit fourth in La Liga with 10 points, level with Alaves and only two behind Real Madrid, making this an opportunity to apply real pressure on the clubs above them. Osasuna arrive in disarray, having conceded two without reply to Espanyol four days ago to drop to 11th. The contrast in momentum could hardly be sharper.
What’s at stake
Atletico Madrid currently occupy fourth place, the final Champions League qualifying position, with 10 points from five games. Barcelona lead the way on 15, Real Madrid sit second on 12, and Alaves are level on 10 but ranked third on goal difference. Sevilla also sit on 10 points in fifth. Three points here would give Atletico a chance to pull clear of that logjam at the top of the table before the sides around them play their own fixtures.
For Osasuna, the arithmetic is less pressing but the pattern is worrying. Back-to-back defeats, including a 2-5 thrashing at Alaves earlier in September, have left Luis Ramis’ side on 7 points in 11th. A loss at the Metropolitano would push them further from the top half and make their early-season wins feel like a distant memory. For Atletico, dropping points at home to mid-table opposition would reignite questions about their inconsistency after the loss to Athletic Club just two weeks ago.
How they got here
Atletico’s last five reads W-L-L-W-D across all competitions, but the most recent result matters most: a commanding 3-0 away win against Real Sociedad in La Liga is the kind of performance that settles a dressing room. Before that, they were beaten by Athletic Club 3-0 in the league and lost 2-1 to Liverpool in the Champions League. The Sociedad result suggests the squad responded. Osasuna’s last five in La Liga tells a different story: D-W-W-L-L, with the two defeats coming in their most recent outings against Alaves (2-5) and Espanyol (0-2). They have scored only 5 goals in 5 league games while conceding 8.
In La Liga, Atletico are fourth on 10 points, tied on points with Alaves in third and two points adrift of Real Madrid. Osasuna are 11th, three points behind the European spots and only four ahead of the bottom three. The table has the feel of a season still being written, but Atletico need consistency at home to stay in the conversation at the top.
Key battle to watch
Osasuna’s midfield trio, anchored by Lucas Torró and featuring Aimar Oroz, will be asked to limit Atletico’s ability to transition quickly from defense. Simeone’s side generated plenty of joy at Sociedad by pressing high and winning the ball in dangerous areas. If Atletico’s midfield, which includes Marcos Llorente, Pablo Barrios, and Morten Hjulmand, can win the second ball in the middle third, Osasuna’s attackers will spend most of the night defending rather than threatening. Ramis will need his midfield to hold its shape under sustained pressure, something it failed to do in the defeats to Alaves and Espanyol.
Key Stats
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Our Prediction
The head-to-head record is heavily in Atletico’s favor, with 8 wins from the last 10 meetings and zero draws. A side that just put three past Real Sociedad away from home, hosting an Osasuna team low on confidence after two straight defeats, looks well placed to win. Atletico’s defensive solidity at the Metropolitano and Osasuna’s goal-scoring struggles make a home win the most logical outcome, though Simeone will be wary of the 1-4 Osasuna delivered at this ground in May 2024.