Atlético Madrid - CA Osasuna: Third place is still in play

Atlético de Madrid will close out its home slate for 2023/24 with a matchup against Osasuna on Sunday evening.

Atlético Madrid (23-4-9, 73 points) have met the club’s primary objective by clinching a place within LALIGA’s top four and securing Champions League football for the 2024/25 season. However, the home finale still carries some weight, as Atlético can set a new club record for home victories in a single league season (with 17) and could even overtake Girona in third place if the Catalans (on 75 points) draw or lose at Valencia.

But for the second week running, head coach Diego Simeone has made it clear that improvement is required for next season if Atlético hope to remain ahead of other rivals.

“I repeat, Real Sociedad are growing, Athletic won the Copa. Now we’re 11 points ahead of them, and many thought they would finish fourth. Girona are two points ahead of us and have had a great season,” Simeone told the media on Saturday. “We have to improve for next season.”

Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Osasuna (11-8-17, 41 points) are set to move on from long-serving boss Jagoba Arrasate this summer and — despite a six-game winless run — remain safely mid-table, even without injured poacher Ante Budimir (16 goals). Los Rojillos have lost 11 consecutive meetings with Atlético and have not scored a goal across the past five — ever since Budimir grabbed the opener in that game on May 16, 2021.

“Keeping a clean sheet gives you a chance to win, it’s something we look for in every match,” Simeone said. “Let’s see if we can maintain it (Sunday), we’ve been competing well in the last few games. I’m imagining a match similar to our recent ones.”

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Changes are afoot in Simeone’s defense for this season's Metropolitano finale, as both Josema Giménez and Axel Witsel are suspended through yellow card accumulation. That could mean Gabriel Paulista sees his first action since the March 9 loss at Cádiz, and Stefan Savić will return to the 11 in what is expected to be his final home game representing Los Rojiblancos. Simeone this week has tested lineups with Samuel Lino and Rodrigo Riquelme on the left — one will be playing in midfield to replace Pablo Barrios, who suffered a muscle injury during the win over Getafe. Antoine Griezmann and Ángel Correa are expected to start up top, the latest indication that Álvaro Morata is no longer in El Cholo’s plans.

Date May 19, 2024

Location Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano, Madrid

Kickoff time 7:00 p.m. CEST, 6:00 p.m. BST, 10:00 p.m. ET, 10:00 a.m. PT

Available TV/streaming ESPN+ (United States), Movistar+ (Spain), Premier Sports 1 (United Kingdom)