Atletico de Madrid 0 : 0 Osasuna - Atletico problems mount after stalemate

Posted Sunday, August 28, 2011 by PA

No Sergio Aguero, no Diego Forlan, and no goals for Atletico Madrid despite a dominant performance as they drew their opening match of the Primera Division season against Osasuna.

With Aguero having swapped the Vicente Calderon for Manchester City, and Forlan nearing a move to Inter Milan, Atletico lacked the firepower to sink Osasuna.

Falcao has been brought in from Porto at great expense to lead the Atletico attack, but he was absent as Adrian Lopez and Salvio started, supported by Jose Antonio Reyes.

Salvio went close, hitting the post from 25 yards just before half-time, and Lopez followed suit after the break, but the home side finished frustrated.

Midfielder Tiago was first to threaten, but from 35 yards his drive went wide of the left post.

Alvaro Dominguez forced a save from Osasuna goalkeeper Asier Riesgo with a header from 12 yards before at the other end a 20-yard strike from Alvaro Cejudo made Thibaut Courtois produce a comfortable save.

Reyes volleyed off target, and Silvio lashed wide. Reyes had a shot from 18 yards gathered by Riesgo and Lopez rammed another effort off target.

Javad Nekounam and Francisco Nino were similarly inefficient in sight of goal.

Reyes then forced Riesgo to make a fine save with his feet, turning the ball away for a corner, before Salvio, in the 44th minute, cracked the ball against the Osasuna goal frame. Riesgo, injured, was substituted within a minute as Andres Fernandez came on.

Gabi began the second half by drilling the ball over the crossbar as Atletico maintained their pressure, before Osasuna's Kike Sola missed the target.

Lopez twice saw shots repelled before he struck a left-footed shot against the post in the 59th minute.

A quiet patch followed before Gabi forced a save from Fernandez, who also parried a 25-yard shot from Mario Suarez.

Courtois had to be alert to keep out a raking 30-yard blast from Roland Lamah, before Lopez headed wide for Atletico.

Even in stoppage-time the hosts had chances, but Juanfran lofted a shot over the bar and Lopez was thwarted by Fernandez in the third extra minute.