Atlético remain unbeaten as Félix and Correa light up El Sadar

Atlético Madrid kept up their unbeaten record in LaLiga after a 3-1 win at Osasuna on Saturday evening. João Félix continued his fine form with a brace, a goal in either half, before Lucas Torreira scored his first goal at the club to put the game to bed late on.

Félix opened the scoring at the end of the first half after converting from the penalty spot. Vitolo had been bundled over by Facundo Roncaglia, and the Portuguese gave Atlético the lead with a spot kick that snuck inside the near post.

The 20-year-old had the chance to double that lead in the second half, when Oier Sanjurjo handled the ball as Ángel Correa tried to take it down in the box. But Félix hit the post with his second try of the night. Correa went close after that with a miss from the penalty rebound and another shot that hit the other post.

The score remained 1-0, but not for long. With a little over 20 minutes to go, an unmarked Félix latched onto a Correa pass and slammed home from outside the six-yard box. After several substitutions, Ante Budimir brought Osasuna back into the game with a header — just Atlético’s second goal conceded in six games this year. However, Torreira got that goal back when took down a lovely Kieran Trippier pass and buried Atlético’s third in what was their most impressive performance this season.

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Félix, the man of the moment, has scored four goals in his last two games between LaLiga and the Champions League, and said he is happy with his current form.

“At a personal level, I’m happy with the goals and at a collective level too,” he said. “We played very well. It was a very close first half and the second half, we started very well, hitting the post twice.”

Diego Simeone said his young star’s change of fortune is based on the consistency he is showing.

“At the start of the season, he looked good,” Simeone said. “He always had good moments but what has people talking is the consistency, and the continuity in his play and in his work.”

This season started in a sluggish manner for Atlético, but it has picked up steam. Félix, who admits it has been a very good start to the season for him, has been in excellent form and the hopes of Simeone’s side hang on the young attacker. After a disappointing debut season in Spain, he has hit the ground running this year with five goals now — he scored nine in total last season — and another two assists. He now looks the attacker for whom Atlético broke their transfer record. And with Luis Suárez afforded the chance to rest on Saturday, he should be ready for a tough test on Tuesday in Europe.

Atlético play Lokomotiv Moscow midweek, and then Cádiz next weekend before another international break.