Real Madrid out on their own on top after Osasuna beat Atletico at their own game
Basque side win 3-0 against Diego Simeone's slumping team
Atletico Madrid slumped to a stunning 3-0 loss at Osasuna on Sunday, leaving Real Madrid as the sole leaders of the Spanish league for the first time since May 2012.
Osasuna beat Atletico at their own game, both in their tough, physical approach and their set piece strategy to take a three-goal lead at the break after one of Atletico’s worst first halves in three years under coach Diego Simeone.
Alvaro Cejudo opened the scoring from a corner kick in the sixth minute before fellow forwards Emiliano Armenteros and Roberto Torres added goals in the 21st and 42nd.
Atletico’s loss came one day after Barcelona lost 3-1 at Real Sociedad, with both the former front-runners looking weary after their Champions League trips in midweek.
Atletico fullback Filipe Luis, who returned from injury, said that their win at AC Milan on Wednesday had nothing to do with this defeat.
“Osasuna played a great game,” said Filipe Luis. “You can’t take anything away from them. They beat us in every facet of the match.”
Atletico and Barcelona have both dropped 10 points over the last seven rounds, allowing Madrid to turn a five-point deficit into a three-point lead despite playing without Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo during a three-game suspension.
Athletic Bilbao strengthened their hold on fourth place by winning 2-0 at Real Betis after the bottom side had two players dismissed, while Valencia and Sevilla won to move to within five points of sixth place and Spain’s last Europa League spot.
Osasuna had already earned draws against Barcelona and Madrid at El Reyno de Navarra Stadium this season, and Javi Gracia’s side lived up to their reputation as being one of the toughest hosts in the Liga.
“I think the fact that those three teams haven’t won here says a lot,” said Cejudo, who credited his team’s fans for their vocal support that he said “pushes” the team forward.Atletico Madrid slumped to a stunning 3-0 loss at Osasuna on Sunday, leaving Real Madrid as the sole leaders of the Spanish league for the first time since May 2012.
Osasuna beat Atletico at their own game, both in their tough, physical approach and their set piece strategy to take a three-goal lead at the break after one of Atletico’s worst first halves in three years under coach Diego Simeone.
Alvaro Cejudo opened the scoring from a corner kick in the sixth minute before fellow forwards Emiliano Armenteros and Roberto Torres added goals in the 21st and 42nd.
Atletico’s loss came one day after Barcelona lost 3-1 at Real Sociedad, with both the former front-runners looking weary after their Champions League trips in midweek.
Atletico fullback Filipe Luis, who returned from injury, said that their win at AC Milan on Wednesday had nothing to do with this defeat.
“Osasuna played a great game,” said Filipe Luis. “You can’t take anything away from them. They beat us in every facet of the match.”
Atletico and Barcelona have both dropped 10 points over the last seven rounds, allowing Madrid to turn a five-point deficit into a three-point lead despite playing without Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo during a three-game suspension.
Athletic Bilbao strengthened their hold on fourth place by winning 2-0 at Real Betis after the bottom side had two players dismissed, while Valencia and Sevilla won to move to within five points of sixth place and Spain’s last Europa League spot.
Osasuna had already earned draws against Barcelona and Madrid at El Reyno de Navarra Stadium this season, and Javi Gracia’s side lived up to their reputation as being one of the toughest hosts in the Liga.
“I think the fact that those three teams haven’t won here says a lot,” said Cejudo, who credited his team’s fans for their vocal support that he said “pushes” the team forward.
