Saul Niguez’s cool end made the distinction for Atletico Madrid as they held on to fourth place with a slender 1-0 win at Osasuna on Sunday in La Liga. Diego Simeone’s aspect provisionally minimize the hole on Real Sociedad, third, to 4 factors, earlier than the Basques go to second place Real Madrid later Sunday. Out of the Champions League and Copa del Rey, and 13 factors behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, Champions League qualification is Atletico’s key objective within the second half of the season. The Rojiblancos had been left fuming after their quarter-final cup elimination in midweek, sad with the refereeing, however had nothing to complain about as they snatched victory at El Sadar.

Osasuna had the higher of the primary half, with on-loan Barcelona winger Ez Abde providing a pacy outlet down the left. Neither aspect had been capable of carve out a transparent likelihood earlier than the break, however the sport quickly opened up.

Jan Oblak made an excellent save to disclaim Moi Gomez after an hour, after the midfielder burst into the field to fireplace Abde’s cross in the direction of objective. The Slovenian stopper then wanted to palm a deflected, dipping drive from Diego Moreno over the bar.

Atletico took the lead after 74 minutes towards the run of play, by means of midfielder Saul, on as an alternative. The Spaniard is not a key determine for Simeone however timed a run nicely to succeed in Rodrigo De Paul’s lobbed move and end clinically.

Saul, 28, spent final season on mortgage at Chelsea the place he was a peripheral determine, and he’s behind teenager Pablo Barrios within the pecking order this season at Atletico.

Griezmann ought to have sealed Atletico’s win however took a heavy contact when by means of on objective after which Aitor Fernandez saved the French striker’s lofted effort. Oblak tipped over one other effort from Jon Moncayola as Atletico took all three factors again to the capital.

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