Atlético Madrid completed a stunning late comeback against Osasuna to move within touching distance of a first La Liga title since 2014.
Diego Simeone’s side was trailing 1-0 going into the game’s closing stages after Ante Budimir had given Osasuna the lead, but two goals in the final eight minutes turned the match on its head and ensured Atleti’s fate remains in its own hands going into the final game of the season.
Despite dominating for the entire game, Atlético fell behind in the 76th minute after goalkeeper Jan Oblak was unable to stop Budimir’s powerful header from crossing the line. With the match and the title seemingly slipping from Atleti’s grasp, Renan Lodi finished brilliantly after 82 minutes to give his side a glimmer of hope, before Luis Suarez completed the comeback with a dramatic 88th minute winner.
It’s been a brilliant individual season for the 34-year-old Suarez, who was let go unceremoniously by Barcelona at the end of last season after six years at the club. Barcelona’s loss has certainly been Atlético’s gain, with the Uruguayan’s goal on Sunday his 20th league strike of the season.
Simeone’s side have been top of the table for 29 matchdays, yet heading into the final 10 minutes here they had temporarily slipped behind Madrid in the table as the title race took a crazy twist. Incredibly, this is just the second time Atlético Madrid have won back-to-back games in LaLiga since the end of January and they now just have to match Real Madrid’s result on the final day.
They travel to Real Valladolid next weekend and Real Madrid – two points behind after beating Athletic Bilbao 1-0 – host Villarreal. Barcelona‘s 2-1 loss to Celta Vigo elsewhere on Sunday means that it is now a two-horse race.
