Late double strike sees Atletico stay in pole position

Atletico Madrid have it in their own hands going into the last day after a stunning comeback against Osasuna. After a dominant Atletico had had two goals disallowed and struck the woodwork twice, Osasuna took the lead through Ante Budimir's header 15 minutes from time. He was surprisingly replaced and Atletico hit twice in the closing stages to have the edge over Real Madrid going into the last day.

Simeone's men just need to win at Valladolid next weekend to win La Liga. Real Madrid's 0-1 win at Athletic Bilbao means they are still in the title race. They face Vilarreal on the last day. Barcelona, meanwhile, are out of contention after a 1-2 loss to Celta Vigo. 

Atletico were dominant and piling the pressure on Osasuna from the off. Luis Suarez could have scored after 10 minutes after being teed up by Angel Correa, but Sergio Herrera made a fine save. Five minutes later, Suarez was denied by Herrera again after a pass by Saul. Then, Luis Suarez was denied by the post after Correa had put it on a plate for him. Atletico were not disheartened though. 

Herrera was in fine form and prevented Angel Correa from scoring in the 28th minute while Saul headed over a cross 10 minutes before the interval. Atletico struck the woodwork a second time when Saul hit one from 30 yards and somehow, it was 0-0 at the break. 

 

May 16, 2021

In the second period, Osasuna came out to attack a little, but still hardly troubled Jan Oblak. Atletico, meanwhile, came even closer to scoring and Stefan Savic thought he had in the 58th minute when he tapped in a free-kick, but the Montenegran was offside from Saul's flick on. The VAR cut short their celebrations and Osasuna were still holding on. 

Angel Correa then saw a volley saved by the keeper and in the 66th minute, Yannick Carrasco scored for Atletico, but the linesman spotted he was offside. Simeone's men began to show signs of frustration and that was intensified when Nacho put Real Madrid ahead at Athletic Bilbao. Then, 15 minutes from time, disaster struck for Atleti completely against the run of play.

Ruben Garcia sent in a lovely cross from this near side, Ante Budimir headed goalwards and Jan Oblak made a superb stop, but the VAR spotted the ball had already crossed the line. That led to arguments between Budimir and some of the Atletico players after Budimir and Savic had exchanged words in the first half. The Osasuna boss took off Budimir and the game changed. 

Renan Lodi levelled for Atletico after he was picked out by subsititute Joao Felix and then hit the ball into the far corner. A draw was not enough though to have it in their own hands on the last day. Atletico went in search of a winner and they got it in the 89th minute when Carrasco passed for Luis Suarez in the middle and he hit into the net to send the crowd gathered outside the stadium jubilant.