Atlético Madrid hosts Osasuna looking to close in on LaLiga's leader

Five points behind the leader. That is the math driving Atlético Madrid, a reminder that this team cannot afford to relax at home. Diego Pablo Simeone's side hosts Osasuna at the Metropolitano this Wednesday, September 16, for matchday 6 of LaLiga, needing to stay within touch of the top spot currently held by a Barcelona team that has yet to drop a single point this season.

For fans in South America, kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, and 12:00 p.m. in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The match will be broadcast through the Premium Plan on Disney+, exclusively for the region.

An Atlético side looking to confirm its form

Atlético arrives with the confidence of a big win behind it. Last weekend, the team shook off the sour taste of its Champions League opener loss to Liverpool (1-2) with an impressive display against Real Sociedad, beating them 3-0. That result helped the club climb the table and jump right back into the fight for a top spot.

The most notable absence for Simeone is Julián Álvarez, who will be sidelined with an injury. Without the Argentine, the coach will need to lean on other attacking options. That means more responsibility for players like Álex Baena, one of the most exciting names at the Metropolitano these days, and Ademola Lookman, another attacking option with goals in him.

Osasuna looking to find its footing on the road

On the other side, Osasuna is going through a far rockier stretch. The Pamplona club is coming off a 0-2 home loss to Espanyol and, before that, a 2-5 thrashing at the hands of Alavés. Two straight blows that demand a response if the team wants to keep alive any hope of fighting for a spot in Europe.

To turn things around, Osasuna will need Ante Budimir to show up. The Croatian striker remains the team's top offensive threat and the player opponents watch most closely whenever they face the Rojillos.

Recent history between the two sides favors Atlético. Their last meeting came on May 12, when the Colchoneros won 2-1 thanks to goals from Sorloth and Lookman, while Kike Barja had pulled one back for the visitors. That result guarantees nothing, but it does set the tone for what Osasuna will try to change at the Metropolitano.

Will that be enough to slow down an Atlético team riding high after routing Real Sociedad? The answer starts to take shape this Wednesday.