Atletico Madrid will be looking to win in La Liga for the first time in over a month when they welcome Osasuna to the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night.
Diego Simeone's side have only taken two points from their last three matches to drop to seventh spot in the table, while Osasuna sit 10th having made an encouraging start to the campaign.
Match preview
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Only Real Madrid (1) have lost fewer league matches than Atletico (2) this season, but Simeone's side are currently seventh in the table having struggled for victories in the opening months of the 2019-20 campaign.
Indeed, the capital giants have won just six of their 16 league fixtures to date, drawing eight times in the process. Goals have been a real concern for the club, meanwhile, with just 16 arriving, which is actually six fewer than Osasuna heading into this weekend's contest.
Unsurprisingly, Atletico boast the best defensive record at this stage with just 10 goals conceded, but a run of just one win in their last six league matches has seen them fall seriously off the pace at the summit.
Not only are the Madrid club eight points off leaders Barca, they are five behind third-placed Sevilla. It seems unthinkable that the Red and Whites will fail to finish in the top four, although there is no question that their form in the early stages of the season has been disappointing.
Atletico did manage to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Champions League on Wednesday, though, as a 2-0 home win over Lokomotiv Moscow proved enough to finish second in the section behind Juventus.
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Promoted back to La Liga after winning the Segunda Division last season, Osasuna have made an encouraging start to the 2019-20 campaign, with a total of 23 points from 16 matches leaving them in 10th spot in the table.
They have only lost three of their 16 league outings this term, although eight draws have arrived. Much like Atletico, their problem has not been losing matches rather picking up all three points.
It is worth remembering that Osasuna finished seventh in La Liga as recently as 2011-12, while they beat Atletico 3-0 when the two teams locked horns during the 2013-14 campaign.
Atletico have won the last two La Liga clashes between the two sides 3-0, but Osasuna's away form in the league this season has actually been very impressive. Indeed, they have suffered just two defeats, including just one of their last five and beat Espanyol 4-2 in their last away game on December 1.
Jagoba Arrasate's side will also enter this match off the back of an impressive 1-1 draw at home to Sevilla last time out, showing that they are capable of taking points off the bigger sides in the division.
Atletico Madrid La Liga form: DDWDLD
Atletico Madrid form (all competitions): WDLLDW
Osasuna competition form: DWDLWD
Team News
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Atletico will again be without the services of Diego Costa and Stefan Savic through injury, but Jose Gimenez could return to the XI having made the squad against Lokomotiv during the week.
The centre-back has not turned out for Simeone's side since October 22 due to a muscular problem; the Uruguay international is pushing to be involved on Saturday, though, in what would be a huge boost for the team.
Vitolo remains a doubt due to a groin problem, but Angel Correa is available having missed the draw against Villarreal last time out through suspension.
Joao Felix is expected to join Alvaro Morata in the final third of the field, while Kieran Trippier should also get the nod over Santiago Arias at right-back.
As for Osasuna, Oier is unavailable having picked up a red card last time out, while the likes of Kike Barja, Ruben Martinez, Sergio Herrera and Nacho Vidal remain on the treatment table.
Aridane Hernandez should recover from a knock to start in central defence, though, while Chimy Avila and Adrian Lopez are expected to feature as the front two in a 4-4-2 formation.
Marc Cardona is another option in attack, although the Spaniard is struggling with the head injury that forced him off against Sevilla last weekend.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Trippier, Felipe, Gimenez, Lodi; Saul, Herrera, Thomas, Koke; Felix, Morata
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Roncaglia, D Garcia, Hernandez, Estupinan; Torres, Brasanac, Moncayola, R Garcia; Avila, Lopez
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Osasuna
This has all the makings of another close contest at the Wanda Metropolitano. Fixtures involving Atletico rarely produce a flurry of goals, and we are expecting only a narrow 1-0 win for Simeone's side, which would be a good result considering Osasuna's form this term.
Matt Law
