Ten-man Atletico beat Osasuna

A ten-man Atletico Madrid side beat Osasuna 1-0 at home on Monday thanks to a late goal by Spanish midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado which helps keep their dreams of securing a place in the Champions League alive.

With 11 minutes remaining, the 23-year-old cut inside after a pass from Sergio “Kun” Aguero and curled the the ball into the top corner from outside the box.

Atletico packed their defence to fight off some late waves of Osasuna attacks to leave it just 10 points outside the Champions League qualifying places.

“It became a very complicated match but the solidarity of the team and that extra bit of aggression in all our actions allowed us to go further than when we were eleven,” said Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

“The inferiority complex we suffered from has left us long ago. Two months ago we would have disappeared with just ten players, now we can win the match,” he added.

Atletico were reduced to ten men after veteran Portuguese international Simao Sabrosa was sent off in the 57th minute for his second bookable offence – a foul on Osasuna defender Cesar Azpilicueta.

He had already been booked in the 19th minute for another foul on Osasuna’s Iranian midfielder Javad Nekounam before a home crowd of just over 38,000.

Atletico, who were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Sporting Lisbon last Thursday in the Europa League, are now in 10th place in La Liga, ten points below fourth-place Sevilla and 31 points behind leaders and city rivals Real Madrid.