Mueez Ajao

– Atletico Madrid needed a second-half goal from substitute Saul Niguez to earn a hard-fought 1-0 away win over in-form Osasuna in LaLiga on Sunday.

– Saul came off the bench to score in the 74th minute on a counter-attack when Rodrigo de Paul showed great vision to see his team mate ghosting in behind Osasuna’s defence and delivered a perfectly placed long ball through.

– The 28-year-old midfielder showed good composure to sprint inside the box and rifle an unstoppable shot to the goalkeeper’s left.

Also Read: Griezmann shines as Atletico cruise past Valladolid

– His goal and a catalogue of saves by goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved Atletico from another disappointing showing. Following their 3-0 win at Real Valladolid last weekend, it’s the second time this season that they have won two league matches in a row.

– Atletico, who finished last in their Champions League group and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by rivals Real Madrid on Thursday, needed the three points to stay in the hunt for one of LaLiga’s four spots in Europe’s top competition next season.

– They are fourth in the LaLiga standings on 34 points, 13 behind Barcelona at the top on 47 points.

– “It is true that we were eliminated from the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, but we are Atletico Madrid and in this club you have to give it all until the last match, it’s a privilege to defend these colours,” manager Diego Simeone told Movistar Plus.

– “We gave our best version when those who came off the bench injected a new strength and energy.

– “We will keep fighting and competing, it’s in our DNA.”

– The lively Antoine Griezmann had the best two chances in a dour first-half on a chilly afternoon at El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona but failed to hit the target on both occasions.

– Osasuna came back a little better after the break and Oblak denied shots by Moi Gomez and Diego Moreno in the 62nd and 71st minutes with brilliant reflex saves.

– After Saul scored in the 74th, Oblak made at least three other saves to keep Osasuna from scoring as they made a late push for a point.

Secured the DUB 💪 pic.twitter.com/j0qpxGfdP2

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 29, 2023

Saul Niguez says he wants to rediscover his best form at Champions League holders, Chelsea after his Atletico Madrid FC frustrations.

“I don’t want to see the Saul that you’ve seen these last two years,” he said.

Saul will spend the 2021-22 season on loan at Chelsea following Tuesday’s deadline-day move, with the European champions reportedly having the option to buy the Spain international.

The 26-year-old was part of Atletico’s title-winning side in La Liga last season, however, he found himself playing out of position under Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital.

Saul – who had also been linked with Premier League giants Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC, is relishing the opportunity to start afresh in London.

“The only negative was not playing in my position at Atletico,” Saul said in an interview with Ibai Llanos on Twitch.

“I could not show what I would like. I had a block in my head that did not allow me to play in another role.

“ The Chelsea option was to leave my comfort zone. It won’t be easy to get into that team.”

A box-to-box midfielder, Saul is at his best operating in a central role, though his versatility and work-rate has often seen him deployed out wide by Simeone.

Saul made only 22 league starts last season, his lowest figure since 2014-15. This perhaps explains why he ranked only fourth in the Atletico squad for attempted tackles in the top tier, with 57.

However, since August 2019, only Real Madrid’s Casemiro (190) had attempted more tackles by a midfielder than Saul (159) in La Liga.

“At Chelsea I will train in my position. Then we will see if I play. That is the biggest reason for my decision,” Saul added.

“I want to go to Chelsea, try the experience and then see what happens. I don’t want to think further. I want to go, compete and help Chelsea.

“Personally, I want to go back to being the Saul that I want to see. I don’t want to see the Saul that you’ve seen these last two years.

“ I was very frustrated not being able to show people what I am capable of.”