Atlético Madrid made it three wins in their last four LaLiga games by beating Osasuna 2-1 at the El Sadar Stadium despite Marcos Llorente’s late red card.
Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth had put Atlético in control before Llorente was sent off, and although Kike Barja’s late goal threatened a nervy finish, the visitors were able to hold on.
Atlético were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute when Antoine Griezmann’s attempt to lift the ball over Javi Galán was blocked by the Spaniard’s hand, and referee José Luis Guzmán Mansilla pointed to the spot following a VAR review.
Lookman took responsibility for the penalty and sent Aitor Fernández in the opposite direction from 12 meters, although that setback seemed to give Osasuna life.
Ante Budimir somehow deflected Valentin Rosier’s shot towards goal from close range, and the Croatian wasted another golden opportunity moments later when he fired the ball over the crossbar after latching onto Koke’s misplaced back pass.
Osasuna were then awarded a penalty when Juan Musso appeared to collide with Budimir, but the decision was overturned after replays showed the Atlético goalkeeper had a clear touch of the ball.
Diego Simeone’s team got to work to get the second, and it came in the 71st minute thanks to Sorloth, a half-time substitute, who headed a deflected cross from Llorente to the far post.
But Atlético had to spend the final 11 minutes with one less player when Llorente received his second yellow card for a foul on Aimar Oroz on the halfway line, and despite Barja’s late goal that set up the grandstand finish, it was too little, too late for Osasuna.
Data report: Sorloth is a cut above the rest
No player has scored more LaLiga goals for Atlético this season than Sorloth (13), despite only 20 of his 33 appearances in the division in 2025-26 coming from the start.
Sorloth’s goal was his sixth header in 30 games in 2026 in all competitions, the highest of any player in Europe’s top five leagues, while he also finished with the team’s highest total of shots (two) despite being introduced at half-time.
But Atlético will consider themselves lucky to take all three points, given that they only recorded a total expected goals (xG) of 1.64 from their five shots, compared to Osasuna’s tally of 2.22 from their 23 attempts.