Soccer Spain LaLiga Prediction

Atl. Madrid vs Osasuna - Match Preview

⚽ 21 May 2023 - 14:15 GMT +0

Atlético Madrid has work to do if they’re to claim the ‘best of the rest title behind runaway La Liga (LL) champions Barcelona, as they have a two-point gap to City rivals Real Madrid to overhaul. Fortunately for Diego Simeone’s side, they’re presented with an opportunity this weekend to at least temporarily surpass Real, who play shortly after Atlético takes on an Osasuna side who they have won their last nine LL games against.

Osasuna’s visit is perhaps timely for Atlético then, who come into this clash on the back of a humiliating 1-0 defeat to rock-bottom Elche last weekend. Not since December 2021 have Atléti lost back-to-back LL games, and fuelled by a seven-match winning home run in LL, few would expect Los Colchoneros to fall to that fate here.

How Osasuna would love to be the club to end that run, and with their top-seven hopes still alive and kicking, their need for the points is equal to that of Atlético’s. As many as six clubs are vying for seventh, and with Osasuna just a point shy of LL’s final European spot ahead of the round, Jagoba Arrasate’s men are primed to pounce on any slip-ups in the chasing pack.

By LL placing though, they are presented with the toughest task of all six chasers this weekend, and this game coming on the road certainly doesn't help considering Osasuna has won only four away league games all season (D7, L6). All four of those victories came having scored first, but the picture is much different when roles are reversed, with Los Rojillos claiming just a single LL point this term after conceding the game’s opener on the road.

📋 Players to watch: Atlético’s Yannick Carrasco boasts a joint-career-high four LL goals against Osasuna, three of which arrived in the second half. Including a brace of assists in their last outing, Osasuna’s Aimar Oroz has assisted four of their last nine LL goals.

⚡ Hot stat: Atlético has conceded an LL-low one goal inside the opening 15 minutes this season.