Osasuna 0-3 Atletico Madrid: Joao Felix stars on landmark appearance as Atleti go fourth

Atletico Madrid moved into LaLiga’s top four with a 3-0 win at Osasuna, as Joao Felix registered a goal and an assist on his 100th appearance for the club.

Joao Felix fired Atletico into an early lead just three minutes into his landmark outing before Luis Suarez scored a fantastic long-range lob after 60 minutes to make the points safe, with Angel Correa adding a late third.

Diego Simeone’s team produced a disciplined defensive performance to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to Levante, as the capital club moved three points clear of Villarreal and Barcelona in the race for Champions League football, albeit having played two games more than the latter.

Simeone’s men took the lead almost immediately, Joao Felix volleying into the roof of the net after Sergio Herrera spilled an early corner and Osasuna’s calls for a foul by Suarez were waved away after a VAR check.

Lucas Torro came close to levelling for the hosts on 37 minutes, heading against the post with Jan Oblak beaten, before Nacho Vidal forced the Atleti shot-stopper into a good save from long range.

Felix’s goal was Atletico’s only shot of a scrappy first-half, as they looked for an eighth consecutive league win over the side from Pamplona. 

With Osasuna pushing for a leveller against a resolute visiting defence, Suarez netted an astonishing second on the hour mark, lobbing Herrera from all of 40 yards as the visitors broke from an Osasuna corner.

Oblak was never seriously tested in the closing stages, which saw Atletico apply gloss to the scoreline in injury time when substitute Correa delicately lifted the ball beyond Herrera after latching onto Koke’s throughball.

The Magician pic.twitter.com/1Jv1vUTNSU

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 19, 2022

What does it mean? Atleti end poor travelling record

Atletico delivered a vintage away performance to move into the Champions League places, which will prove a great relief to Simeone after a terrible recent run on their travels.

This victory ended their dire sequence of five away LaLiga games without a win (one draw and four defeats), Simeone’s men having conceded two or more goals in each of those matches, a record they banished with a clean sheet in Pamplona.

Joax Felix brings up century in style 

Before providing the assist for Suarez’s stunner, Joao Felix marked his 100th Atletico appearance with a goal, maintaining his fantastic record against Osasuna.

He has now scored five goals in five appearances against Osasuna in LaLiga, his best goalscoring record against a single opponent in the competition. He has also netted three times in three league visits to El Sadar. 

Simeone maintains Osasuna hoodoo

Simeone also improved his own excellent record against Osasuna; the Argentine has won 12 of his 13 games as a coach against Osasuna in LaLiga, with his only loss to them coming back in February 2014.

What’s next? 

Atletico face a big week on two fronts, hosting Manchester United in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, before welcoming Celta Vigo to the Wanda Metropolitano in LaLiga next Saturday. Osasuna travel to Real Sociedad a day later.