MADRID (AFP) - Atletico Madrid gave their hopes of bagging a Champions League berth a boost with a narrow 1-0 victory against indisciplined Osasuna, who had four players sent off in the final 12 minutes.

The three points moved the "rojiblanco" into the top three but they needed a goal seven from time from Ze Castro to settle the affair after Fernando Torres had earlier missed a penalty.

Referee Lizondo Cortes had a field day as he had already banished Atletico´s Mexican coach Javier Aguirre to the stands just before the interval when the latter became over-heated in the technical area against his former club.

But after Hector Font had gone close for the visitors, denied by Ivan Cuellar, standing in for injured Argentine Leo Franco, Atletico began to find their feet as Sergio Aguero twice brought good saves out of Osasuna shot-stopper Ricardo.

Atletico, seeking to move onto 35 points, the same as Real, from 19 games - Real travel to Mallorca on Sunday - should have had the long-awaited breakthrough when Carlos Cuellar hauled down the rampaging Torres with 14 minutes to go.

As Cuellar headed for an early bath - little realising he would shortly have company - Torres blasted his effort off target.

However, five minutes later the crowd at the Vicente Calderon stadium were on their feet as Ze Castro drove home decisively to end the stalemate.

That brought the red mist out for the visitors and former Real man Roberto Soldado was next to go for an elbow on Ze Castro on 86 minutes.

Osasuna were down to eight men when Cortes reached into his top pocket once more, dismissing keeper Ricardo for timewasting after dishing out an earlier booking in similar circumstances.

In injury time Raul Garcia completed Osasuna´s miserable night when he was red-carded for a foul on Georgios Seitaridis.

Atletico moved to within two points of leaders Seville, who were in action in the late game at Villarreal, and level on points with Barcelona, home to Gimnastic Tarragona on Sunday.

Osasuna remain in mid-table after their setback.