Alejandro Baena was the late hero for Atletico Madrid, scoring in the 89th minute to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win at Espanyol on Saturday. The victory extends Atletico's winning streak to six matches and lifts them into second place in La Liga with 22 points, five behind leaders Barcelona. The team has a record of seven wins, one draw and one loss from their nine games, with a recent run of five consecutive victories.
The match was a story of Atletico dominance, with the visitors controlling 71% of possession and creating the clearer chances. Yet the home defence and goalkeeper Ángel Fortuño kept them at bay for almost the entire contest. Simeone made attacking changes at half-time, introducing Julián Álvarez and Alejandro Grimaldo, and it was the Argentine who provided the assist for Baena's winner. The midfielder, who is now the team's top scorer this season with five goals, latched onto a through ball to beat Fortuño with a low finish.
Simeone praises persistence
The Argentine manager acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture. "The team has suffered to win at the RCDE Stadium," Simeone said after the match. He praised his players' patience and their clinical edge in the decisive moment, traits that have defined this positive run. Atletico have now won five consecutive league games and have a defence that has conceded only eight goals in nine matches, scoring 19 for a +11 goal difference.
The win solidifies Atletico's position in the title race, though Barcelona remain five points clear. Simeone's side have taken 22 points from a possible 27, with a record of seven wins, one draw and a single defeat. Their next fixture is at home against Deportivo La Coruna, who sit ninth in the table, on Saturday 24 October, as they look to maintain the pressure at the top of the standings. This win over Espanyol follows other recent results including a 2-0 victory over Manchester United, a 2-1 win at Alaves, a 2-1 triumph against Real Madrid, a 4-0 defeat of Osasuna and a 0-3 win at Real Sociedad.
