Atletico Madrid Dominates Osasuna 4-0 to Keep Title Hopes Alive
Atletico didn’t just win. They imposed themselves.
Diego Simeone’s side tore through Osasuna 4-0 at a raucous Riyadh Air Metropolitano, a statement victory that keeps them locked into the early Liga title race and sends a clear message to the two giants above them.
David sets the tone – and makes history
The night belonged to David.
He broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, finishing clinically to give Atletico the platform they wanted and the crowd the explosion they craved. From that moment, Osasuna were chasing shadows.
That goal did more than settle the nerves. With it, David became the first Atletico player in the 21st century to score in each of his first two La Liga appearances for the club – a remarkable feat in a club that has housed its share of elite forwards.
He didn’t stop there.
After the interval, with Osasuna trying to creep higher up the pitch, David punished them again, this time as creator. Spotting the run of Lee Kang-in, he threaded a sharp, incisive pass into the box. Lee stayed ice-cool, slotting home nine minutes into the second half to double the lead and effectively kill the contest.
One goal, one assist, and a new place in the club’s record books. On a pitch full of strong performances, David still shone the brightest.
Goals keep coming as Atletico run riot
Once the second went in, the match tilted completely in Atletico’s favour.
Osasuna’s resistance cracked, and Simeone’s team sensed the chance to turn a routine win into a rout. The pressure finally told in the 63rd minute when Robin Le Normand added the third, pushing the scoreline into emphatic territory and the visitors into damage-limitation mode.
Any hope of a late Osasuna rally vanished long before the final whistle. Alex Baena stepped up in the 82nd minute to add the fourth, capping a ruthless attacking display and sending the home fans into full celebration.
By then, Osasuna’s evening had long since turned grim. The defeat leaves them stuck in 13th place, with just seven points from their opening six matches and serious questions about their defensive solidity away from home.
Winning big without Julian Alvarez
All of this came without one of Atletico’s headline names.
Julian Alvarez, still battling a muscle problem, didn’t make the matchday squad. Simeone had already flagged the Argentine’s fitness concerns in his pre-match press conference, a small cloud over an otherwise buoyant start to the season.
Any doubts about Atletico’s attacking depth were quickly swept aside. The front line functioned with fluency, the midfield pushed high, and the goals were spread around. This was a squad win as much as a star turn.
Four goals, a clean sheet, and their main forward option still to return. Simeone will quietly relish that combination.
Derby storm on the horizon
The table now reflects Atletico’s momentum.
They move to 13 points from six matches, sitting third and just two points adrift of Real Madrid and leaders Barcelona. The gap is narrow. The stakes are about to spike.
Next up: the Madrid Derby.
Los Blancos will arrive at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano for what already feels like a pivotal early-season clash. For Atletico, it is more than a local grudge match. It is a chance to jump above their neighbours and plant themselves firmly in the heart of the title conversation.
A performance with this intensity against Madrid would do more than light up the stadium. It could tilt the shape of the season.
Osasuna, by contrast, retreat to regroup. They return home to face Rayo Vallecano, needing not just a response, but a reset after being torn apart in the capital.
