Late winner settles a tight match

Baena scored in the 89th minute to give Atlético Madrid a 1-0 win away at Espanyol. The strike came from a powerful shot and ended a match that had stayed level for most of its length. According to the reports, the victory is Atlético's sixth consecutive win. Espanyol had been looking for their first win in their last four matches.

Espanyol's resistance

Espanyol goalkeeper Fortuño made several important saves, and one report called him the best player on either side. The hosts set up a five-man defensive line under coach Manolo González, which kept Atlético from finding space for long periods. Espanyol's wide runs from El Hilali and Bryan Zaragoza did not manage to lift the home side. Espanyol relied mostly on long balls and second-ball situations, which one report said lost many chances over the course of a match.

Atlético's chances

Atlético created the clearer chances in the first half. Giuliano had a chance against Fortuño that he could not convert, and Jonathan David, Lookman and Kang-In Lee also tested the Espanyol goalkeeper. A shot from Cabrera struck the crossbar, showing how close the match came to producing a goal before the interval. Atlético kept the ball on the ground and waited for their chance, while the reports described their control in midfield as a key factor.

Simeone's rotation

Simeone made four changes to the starting lineup, with a run of matches every three days over two weeks ahead of Atlético. In the second half, Grimaldo replaced Dani Martínez and Julián Álvarez replaced Lookman. Barrios was taken off as a precaution, and Llorente came on in his place. Baena, who is recovering from earlier form, ended the match with the decisive strike.