Atletico Madrid draw with Osasuna in Spanish league opener
Enlarge this image Atletico Madrid was held to a 0-0 draw by Osasuna on Sunday in both teams’ Spanish league opener.
Atletico created more chances throughout but missed the scoring touch of Diego Forlan and new signing Radamel Falcao as Osasuna held firm to split the points at Vicente Calderon stadium.
Uruguay striker Forlan was left off the squad amid expectations he will soon sign with Inter Milan, while Falcao was unavailable due to a delay in his transfer from FC Porto.
Atletico’s new attacking midfielder Eduardo Salvio grazed the post with a bouncing long-range shot two minutes before halftime, and teammate Jose Antonio Reyes rattled the woodwork in the 59th.
Both sides also had opportunities to snatch a late victory.
Osasuna forward Juan “Nino” Martinez fired wide from inside the area in the 90th, and Atletico striker Adrian Alvarez forced a diving save from substitute goalkeeper Andres Fernandez in injury time.
“I was prepared for anything and today I made the best of it,” said Fernandez, who replaced injured starting goalkeeper Asier Riesgo near the end of the first half. “We worked hard today and even had a chance at winning.”
The midday local time start inaugurated the Spanish league’s scheduling change this season.
Later, Real Madrid visits Zaragoza, while Sevilla plays the revamped Malaga in an Andalucian derby.
Also, it’s: Athletic Bilbao vs. Rayo Vallecano, Getafe vs. Levante and Mallorca vs. Espanyol.
Three-time defending champion Barcelona hosts Villarreal on Monday.
On Saturday, Roberto Soldado scored a hat trick to rally Valencia to a 4-3 comeback win over Racing Santander. Real Sociedad beat Sporting Gijon 2-1 with two goals from Imanol Agirretxe, and Betis edged Granada 1-0.
The first players’ strike in 27 years delayed the start of the Spanish league by a week. The players’ union and league struck a deal on Thursday that satisfied demands for the payment of $72-million owed in back wages to over 200 players.
The games originally scheduled for the first round will be played from Jan. 20-22.
Similar Posts:
- Real Madrid follows cup win with 6-3 drubbing of Valencia
- All-Portuguese final looms in Europa League
- Madrid poised for third summer Games bid: reports
- Celtics Draft Pick E’Twaun Moore to Play in Italy?
- Real Salt Lake sink Toronto FC
