Soccer Football - LaLiga - Osasuna v Atletico Madrid - El Sadar Stadium, Pamplona, Spain - January 29, 2023 Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez scores their first goal REUTERS/Vincent West
(Reuters) - Atletico Madrid needed a second-half goal from substitute Saul Niguez to earn a hard-fought 1-0 away win over in-form Osasuna in LaLiga on Sunday.
Saul came off the bench to score in the 74th minute on a counter-attack when Rodrigo de Paul showed great vision to see his team mate ghosting in behind Osasuna's defence and delivered a perfectly placed long ball through.
The 28-year-old midfielder showed good composure to sprint inside the box and rifle an unstoppable shot to the goalkeeper's left.
Atletico are fourth in the LaLiga standings on 34 points, four behind third-placed Real Sociedad who have a game in hand and will play at second-placed Real Madrid later on Sunday. Barcelona are top on 47 points.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
