Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Osasuna - prediction, team news, lineups

Diego Simeone's side are currently third in the table, two points behind second-placed Real Madrid, while Osasuna are ninth, only one point behind seventh-placed Girona.

Match preview

Atletico saw their hopes of winning the La Liga title officially come to an end last weekend when they suffered a 1-0 loss to Elche, with Fidel's 41st-minute goal securing a huge victory for the already-relegated hosts.

Simeone's team were never genuinely in the race for the championship, though, and the Red and Whites are instead in a battle with bitter rivals Real Madrid for second position in the table, which would represent a strong campaign for Atletico considering their problems earlier this season.

Atleti have been largely excellent in the second half of the campaign, with a lack of European football, courtesy of finishing bottom of their Champions League section last year, allowing them to focus on domestic matters.

The Red and Whites have been largely strong at home in the league this season, picking up 36 points from 17 matches, and they will certainly be aiming to finish their campaign with four straight victories over Osasuna, Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Villarreal.

Atletico's recent record against Osasuna is also very strong, winning each of the last nine top-flight matches between the two sides, including a 1-0 victory in the reverse match at the end of January.

Osasuna have not actually beaten Atletico in La Liga since February 2014, while they have not overcome the capital giants away from home in the league since April 2009, which is an indication of the size of their task in Sunday's contest.

Los Rojillos have plenty to fight for at this stage of the season, though, as they currently list ninth in the table, just one point behind seventh-placed Girona, who as it stands are qualifying for the 2023-24 Europa Conference League playoff round.

Osasuna suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final earlier this month but managed to return to winning ways in the league last time out, recording a 3-1 home success over Almeria.

Ante Budimir, Abde Ezzalzouli and Moi Gomez were on the scoresheet for Jagoba Arrasate's side in Pamplona, with the victory proving to be the team's 13th in the league this season.

Osasuna have only won four of their 17 away league matches this term but have lost just six times, and they are certainly capable of making this a very uncomfortable game for Atletico.

Atletico Madrid La Liga form:

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Osasuna La Liga form:

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Osasuna form (all competitions):

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Team News

Atletico will again be missing five players through injury for this match, with Memphis Depay, Jan Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Stefan Savic and Reinildo all on the sidelines.

Head coach Simeone is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the 1-0 loss to Elche, but there could be a position in central midfield for Pablo Barrios.

Due to the absentees, there are unlikely to be any changes at the back, with Axel Witsel again set to feature in a three, although Sergio Reguilon is also an option in a defensive area.

Osasuna, meanwhile, will again be missing Nacho Vidal and Darko Brasanac through injury this weekend, but Jorge Herrando is available again following a suspension.

Moi Gomez scored off the bench against Almeria last time out and is now expected to come into a midfield position, with Ruben Pena potentially dropping out of the side.

Arrasate is unlikely to make any changes in the final third of the field, though, with Ezzalzouli and Budimir impressing in the team's last match.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Grbic; Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Barrios, Carrasco; Griezmann, Morata

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Moncayola, Aridane, D Garcia, Sanchez; M Gomez, Torro, Oroz; Barja, Budimir, Ezzalzouli

We say: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Osasuna

Osasuna have often proved to be a tough nut to crack on their travels this season, picking up points in 11 of their 17 away league games. Atletico will be determined to bounce back from their shock loss to Elche, though, and we are backing Simeone's side to secure a narrow victory here.

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