Jonathan David was handed his first start for Atlético as the team’s lineup for Atlético Madrid Vs Osasuna was confirmed before kickoff in LaLiga EA Sports. Osasuna answered with Aitor Fernández in goal and Sergio Herrera on the bench, while Budimir also stayed out of the starting XI.
The selections gave the match its first real storyline. Atlético named Oblak, Llorente, Le Normand, Cuti Romero, Grimaldo, Kang-In Lee, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman, Baena and Jonathan David, with Giuliano and Pubill among the substitutes. Osasuna went with Aitor Fernández, Arguibide, Boyomo, Rockson, Santos, Bretones, Torró, Osambela, Moro, Dubasin and Raúl García, a group shaped by a different choice in goal and a bench that left two familiar names available if needed.
The reason for Jonathan David’s promotion was simple enough. Simeone said last week was too soon for him to start, that the forward needed more time with his teammates, and that his previous outing — a useful 30 minutes — had earned him another step forward. He also framed the decision as part of a wider need for fresh energy, with Atlético coming through a heavy run of travel and matches and still trying to settle a side that he said remained en construcción.
Osasuna’s change carried a different logic. Ramis said the club had made several necessary adjustments because of the competitive week it was facing and stressed that he wanted a controlled contest, not an open back-and-forth game against an opponent of Atlético’s category, talent and precision. In that context, starting Aitor Fernández instead of Sergio Herrera was presented as a way to keep competition alive between the two goalkeepers rather than as a punishment or a permanent shift.
That leaves the match with two unanswered but practical questions: whether Jonathan David can turn this first start into a longer run in the team, and whether Osasuna’s goalkeeper switch holds beyond one demanding night. For now, the lineups tell the story clearly enough — Atlético are still building, Osasuna are managing a busy week, and both sides chose their lineups to match the moment rather than to make a statement for the long term.
