Atlético Madrid 4–0 Osasuna: Why Simeone’s Side Completely Took Control of the Match
Atlético Madrid 4–0 Osasuna
Date: 16 September 2026
Venue: Madrid
Referee: Francisco Maeso
Atlético Madrid did not simply beat Osasuna.
They controlled the match, controlled the ball, created chance after chance and eventually turned a competitive opening period into a convincing 4–0 victory.
The final score tells us that Atlético were better.
But the score alone does not explain why.
For long periods, Atlético Madrid dictated where the game was played. They moved the ball quickly, combined through the middle and wide areas, repeatedly found space around the Osasuna penalty area and forced the visitors deeper and deeper.
Osasuna had moments when they tried to build possession and attack, but Atlético's pressure and control made it difficult for them to sustain those moments.
By the end, four different Atlético players had found the net:
- Jonathan David — 24'
- Kang-In Lee — 54'
- Robin Le Normand — 63'
- Alex Baena — 82'
And that sequence tells an interesting story.
Atlético did not rely on one player or one type of attack.
They found different ways to hurt Osasuna.
So, how did Atlético Madrid turn this into such a one-sided 4–0 victory?
Atlético Madrid controlled the game from the beginning
One of the clearest signs of Atlético's dominance appeared very early.
Just five minutes into the match, Atlético were already moving the ball around confidently, using quick one-touch passes and controlling the pace.
That continued throughout the opening stages.
By the 36th minute, Atlético had enjoyed 73% possession, leaving Osasuna with just 27%.
But possession by itself does not win football matches.
The important question is:
What did Atlético do with that possession?
In this case, they used it to constantly move Osasuna's defensive shape.
Instead of simply keeping the ball between their defenders, Atlético repeatedly tried to progress it into dangerous areas.
Alex Baena was involved in several attacking situations.
Kang-In Lee repeatedly looked for opportunities around the penalty area.
Ademola Lookman provided width and attacking movement.
Jonathan David was constantly looking for opportunities inside the box.
The result was an Atlético side that kept asking Osasuna defensive questions.
Tactical Sketch: How Atlético stretched Osasuna
Simplified attacking picture:
OSASUNA GOAL
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ DEFENSIVE LINE │
│ ● ● ● ● ● │
│ ↖ ↑ ↑ ↗ │
│ ● ● ● │
│ │
│ ← Lookman Baena → │
│ │
│ ↓ │
│ Jonathan David │
└─────────────────────────┘
ATLÉTICO MADRID
Width + movement + passing
= defensive gaps
The key idea was simple.
When Atlético moved the ball quickly from one side to another, Osasuna had to keep adjusting.
Every adjustment created another potential passing lane.
And Atlético kept looking for those lanes.
The first goal changed the match
Atlético's pressure eventually produced the breakthrough in the 24th minute.
Jonathan David was in the right place to collect the rebound inside the box and fired the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Atlético Madrid 1–0 Osasuna.
It was an important moment because Atlético had already created several promising situations before the goal.
In the 12th minute, Kang-In Lee had a dangerous effort from inside the box blocked by Aitor Fernández.
Jonathan David also had an opportunity in the 23rd minute, but Fernández made a comfortable save.
Then, just one minute later, David got another opportunity.
This time, he made no mistake.
That sequence matters.
Atlético weren't scoring from their first attack.
They were repeatedly getting into dangerous areas.
Eventually, one of those attacks produced the opening goal.
Osasuna had a goal ruled out
There was an interesting moment in the 30th minute.
Osasuna appeared to have found an equaliser when Iñigo Arguibide turned away in celebration after the ball entered the net.
But referee Francisco Maeso ruled the goal out for a foul.
That meant Osasuna were unable to turn the momentum back in their direction.
And Atlético continued to control the game.
This was important because at 1–0, the match was still technically open.
One Osasuna goal could have completely changed the atmosphere.
Atlético therefore needed to maintain control rather than simply protect their lead.
And they did.
Atlético continued creating chances
The first half ended with Atlético ahead, but the scoreline arguably did not tell the entire story of their attacking activity.
Ademola Lookman was involved in dangerous situations.
Alex Baena continued supplying crosses and passes.
Kang-In Lee continued shooting from around the edge of the penalty area.
Jonathan David remained a threat.
In the 35th minute, Lookman created an opportunity for Jonathan David inside the box, but David's effort went narrowly wide.
Then in the 37th minute, Lookman found space inside the box but couldn't keep his shot on target.
A minute later, Lookman supplied Baena, whose effort lacked enough power and direction.
This pattern kept repeating.
Atlético would recover possession, move it forward, create a dangerous position and force Osasuna to defend again.
Osasuna's problem: they couldn't sustain attacks
Osasuna weren't completely passive.
There were moments when they managed to keep possession and search for gaps.
At the 40th minute, Raul Moro received a long through ball and found himself in a promising position inside the box.
But Atlético's defence reacted quickly and cleared the danger.
At 41 minutes, Osasuna tried to keep the ball and wait for openings.
Again, Atlético stepped in and recovered possession.
That was one of the biggest differences between the two teams.
Osasuna needed sustained possession to build pressure.
Atlético were much more comfortable controlling the rhythm and deciding when to accelerate.
The second half killed the contest
The biggest turning point came shortly after halftime.
Atlético didn't come out simply trying to protect their 1–0 advantage.
They went looking for another goal.
And they found it.
54' — Kang-In Lee makes it 2–0
Jonathan David played Kang-In Lee through inside the box.
Lee showed excellent composure and finished into the bottom-left corner.
Atlético Madrid 2–0 Osasuna.
This goal was particularly important because of how it was created.
It wasn't simply a long-range strike or a random rebound.
Jonathan David's movement and pass created the opportunity, while Lee had the composure to finish it.
The partnership between the attackers was becoming increasingly difficult for Osasuna to contain.
Tactical Sketch: The second goal
OSASUNA BOX
┌───────────────────────┐
│ ● ● ● │
│ ↘ │
│ ● │
│ ↓ │
│ DAVID │
│ ╲ │
│ ╲ PASS │
│ ↘ │
│ KANG-IN LEE ● │
│ ↘ │
│ ⚽ │
└───────────────────────┘
David creates the lane.
Lee attacks it.
One precise pass breaks the defence.
That is the kind of sequence MatchWhy should focus on.
Not just:
“Kang-In Lee scored.”
But:
How did the goal happen?
That is the difference between a match report and match analysis.
Osasuna were now chasing the game
At 2–0, Osasuna had a difficult decision.
They needed to attack because they were two goals behind.
But attacking also meant leaving more space behind them.
That gave Atlético opportunities to exploit transitions.
And Atlético continued to create chances.
Cristian Gabriel Romero came close in the 62nd minute after receiving a pass around the edge of the box.
His powerful effort was heading toward the roof of the net, but Aitor Fernández produced an excellent save.
However, Osasuna could not hold out for long.
63' — Robin Le Normand makes it 3–0
The third goal arrived just nine minutes after Lee's finish.
Atlético won a corner.
The initial effort did not immediately result in a goal, but the ball eventually fell back into the penalty area.
Robin Le Normand reacted quickest to the rebound.
He fired the ball into the top-right corner.
Atlético Madrid 3–0 Osasuna.
At this point, the match was effectively moving beyond Osasuna's control.
And notice something important about Atlético's three goals.
They came from different situations:
Goal 1: Jonathan David finished a rebound.
Goal 2: Kang-In Lee finished after a through ball.
Goal 3: Robin Le Normand reacted to a rebound following a set-piece situation.
That variety is important.
Osasuna could not simply defend against one type of attack.
Atlético were dangerous in open play and from set-piece situations.
The game became Atlético's playground
After the third goal, Atlético continued to create opportunities.
Osasuna made substitutions in an attempt to change the game.
Atlético also began introducing fresh players.
Diego Simeone made a series of changes around the 68th minute.
Giuliano Simeone replaced Jonathan David.
Arnau Ortiz came on for Ademola Lookman.
Marc Pubill replaced Cristian Gabriel Romero.
Later, Morten Hjulmand replaced Johnny Cardoso.
David Hancko also replaced Alejandro Grimaldo.
These changes allowed Atlético to maintain energy while already holding a comfortable advantage.
That is an important aspect of game management.
When you're 3–0 ahead, the objective changes.
You don't necessarily need to attack with the same intensity for 90 minutes.
You need to control the match, manage the spaces and avoid giving the opposition a route back into the game.
Atlético did that while still creating opportunities.
Osasuna nearly found a response
Even at 3–0, Osasuna had chances.
In the 84th minute, Unai Santos found himself near the penalty spot after a free kick.
He connected with the cross but headed narrowly wide of the left post.
That was one of those moments where Osasuna could have at least given themselves something to fight for.
But the opportunity went away.
Atlético remained firmly in control.
82' — Alex Baena puts the game beyond doubt
The fourth goal was perhaps the clearest example of Atlético's ability to exploit space.
Johnny Cardoso played a through ball into the box.
Alex Baena received it in a dangerous position.
With the goalkeeper to beat, Baena kept his composure and fired into the bottom-right corner.
Atlético Madrid 4–0 Osasuna.
Game over.
The goal also provided a fitting ending to an evening in which Baena had been heavily involved in Atlético's attacking play.
He had delivered crosses, taken corners, combined with teammates and repeatedly looked to create danger.
Now he had his goal.
Why Atlético Madrid won 4–0
The final score can be explained through several key factors.
1. Atlético controlled possession
The clearest numerical indicator was the 73–27 possession split recorded in the first half.
But the important thing wasn't possession for possession's sake.
Atlético used the ball to control the tempo and move Osasuna's defensive structure.
They repeatedly shifted the ball and looked for openings.
2. Atlético kept creating chances
Before halftime, Atlético had already produced several dangerous situations.
Kang-In Lee tested Aitor Fernández.
Jonathan David had multiple opportunities.
Lookman found space inside the box.
Baena was involved in dangerous attacking sequences.
That sustained pressure eventually turned into goals.
3. Jonathan David gave Atlético the breakthrough
David's 24th-minute goal gave Atlético something they could build on.
Once they had the lead, Osasuna had to take more risks.
That created additional space for Atlético's attackers.
David then returned the favour by assisting Kang-In Lee for the second goal.
4. Atlético had multiple attacking outlets
This wasn't a match where one player carried the entire attack.
Lookman was involved.
Baena was involved.
Lee was involved.
David was involved.
Cardoso eventually created the fourth goal.
That variety made Atlético difficult to predict.
5. Osasuna couldn't turn possession into sustained danger
Osasuna did have moments with the ball.
But Atlético repeatedly interrupted their attacks.
Whenever Osasuna appeared to find a promising position, Atlético's defence was generally quick to react.
That prevented Osasuna from building sustained pressure.
6. Atlético were dangerous after set pieces
The third goal demonstrated another dimension.
Le Normand's goal came after Atlético created danger from a corner and reacted quickly to the rebound.
When a team can threaten both in open play and from set pieces, defending becomes more complicated.
The numbers tell only part of the story
Here is the basic match picture:
| Category | Atlético Madrid | Osasuna |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 4 | 0 |
| First-half possession | 73% | 27% |
| Goals | 4 | 0 |
| Attendance | 60,869 | — |
The possession statistic is especially striking.
But it should not be interpreted as:
“Atlético had the ball, therefore they deserved to win.”
The more useful interpretation is:
Atlético had the ball, used it to control the rhythm, created repeated attacking situations and eventually converted that control into four goals.
That's the story behind the number.
The match in four moments
If we reduce the entire game to four major moments, the story becomes very simple.
⚽ 24' — Jonathan David
Atlético's pressure finally produces the breakthrough.
1–0.
⚽ 54' — Kang-In Lee
David turns creator and finds Lee inside the box.
2–0.
⚽ 63' — Robin Le Normand
Atlético remain dangerous from a corner and Le Normand reacts to the rebound.
3–0.
⚽ 82' — Alex Baena
Johnny Cardoso's through ball releases Baena, who finishes calmly.
4–0.
Four goals.
Four different situations.
And that is perhaps the biggest explanation for the result.
A closer look at Atlético's attacking structure
One of the most interesting aspects of the match was the number of players who participated in Atlético's attacks.
Baena repeatedly delivered balls into dangerous areas.
Lookman created opportunities from wide and inside positions.
Lee operated around the attacking areas and was willing to shoot.
David provided a central attacking presence.
Cardoso eventually produced the pass for the fourth goal.
That created a problem for Osasuna.
If they concentrated too heavily on one attacker, another player could find space.
If they stayed compact centrally, Atlético could use the wide areas.
If they pushed out toward the wings, spaces could appear inside.
That is how attacking structures begin to create defensive dilemmas.
Tactical Sketch: Why Osasuna struggled
OSASUNA
● ● ●
● ● ● ●
←──────── ATLÉTICO ────────→
Baena Lookman
↘ ↙
Lee / David
↓
GOAL
Wide threat ←→ Central threat
Osasuna had to constantly
decide where to shift.
The important principle is width plus central movement.
When Atlético stretched the pitch, they created more space for players operating between the lines and around the box.
Aitor Fernández kept the score from being even bigger
Although Atlético won 4–0, Aitor Fernández deserves recognition for preventing an even larger defeat.
He made several saves during the match.
One particularly notable moment came in the 62nd minute when Cristian Gabriel Romero struck a powerful shot toward the roof of the net.
Fernández reacted quickly to make an excellent save.
Earlier, he had also denied Kang-In Lee and Jonathan David.
And in the 90+4th minute, he stopped Arnau Ortiz after Ortiz had been played through inside the box.
That final save was another reminder that Osasuna's goalkeeper had been involved throughout the match.
Without those interventions, the final score could have been even more severe.
What about Osasuna?
For Osasuna, the biggest problem was not simply conceding four goals.
It was the difficulty they had in changing the direction of the match once Atlético established control.
They had some promising moments.
Raul Moro had opportunities.
Unai Santos came close with a header.
There was also the disallowed goal in the first half.
But these moments were isolated rather than part of a sustained attacking spell.
Against a team controlling 73% of the ball for large portions of the first half, isolated chances are rarely enough.
Osasuna needed a longer period of pressure.
They couldn't find it.
Simeone's game management
With Atlético 3–0 ahead, Diego Simeone used his bench extensively.
The changes helped Atlético maintain freshness while also protecting the structure of the team.
The introduction of Giuliano Simeone, Arnau Ortiz, Marc Pubill, Morten Hjulmand and David Hancko gave Atlético fresh legs during the final stages.
And rather than becoming careless after reaching 3–0, Atlético continued to manage the game.
They still pushed forward when opportunities appeared.
They still defended when necessary.
They still maintained enough control to prevent Osasuna from building a comeback.
Then Baena scored the fourth.
Final verdict: Why did Atlético Madrid win?
The 4–0 scoreline was not the result of one spectacular moment.
It was the product of sustained control.
Atlético controlled possession.
They controlled the tempo.
They repeatedly moved the ball into dangerous areas.
They created opportunities from open play.
They created danger from set pieces.
They had several attacking players contributing.
And when Osasuna tried to respond, Atlético's defence generally dealt with the danger.
The four goals then arrived at different stages of the match:
24 minutes.
54 minutes.
63 minutes.
82 minutes.
That progression tells us something.
Atlético didn't need to score four goals in one frantic spell.
They gradually broke Osasuna down.
The first goal gave them the advantage.
The second created separation.
The third effectively killed the contest.
The fourth completed the performance.
The Match Why
So, why did Atlético Madrid beat Osasuna 4–0?
Because Atlético did more than simply have possession.
They used possession to control the match.
They created repeated attacking situations.
They moved Osasuna's defensive structure.
They attacked through different players.
They converted opportunities.
And when the game was already under control, they managed it intelligently.
That is why the final score wasn't simply:
Atlético Madrid 4–0 Osasuna.
The real story was:
Atlético Madrid controlled the game, created the pressure, found different ways through Osasuna's defence and turned that control into four goals.
That's the difference between knowing the score and understanding why the match ended that way.
This is MatchWhy.
We don't just tell you the score. We explain why.
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