Espanyol Stunned at the Metropolitano

Espanyol caught everyone by surprise when they found the net just under five minutes into the match. Tyrhys Dolan surged forward and delivered a precise near-post cross that Jofre Carreras expertly converted.

Atletico’s Response

Atletico Madrid knew they had to fight back, with Antoine Griezmann and Matteo Ruggeri coming close to leveling the score. However, the home side’s early play lacked the sharpness needed to turn their chances into goals.

Turning Point

As the game reached the 20-minute mark, Marcos Llorente made a crucial play, assisting Alexander Sorloth. The latter volleyed the ball back across the goalkeeper, evening the score. This goal showcased the urgency that had previously been lacking from Atletico, as they dominated the remainder of the first half.

Griezmann soon had an opportunity to put Atletico ahead, firing just wide, while Espanyol struggled to regain control. It was evident that for the Catalan side to earn a point, they would need both tenacity and a bit of luck.

Atletico Takes the Lead

Hope for an Espanyol revival was dashed shortly after the second half began. Alex Baena set up Giuliani Simeone, who scored his first home league goal in ten months, putting Atletico back in front.

Continuous Pressure

The intensity from Atletico did not wane. Ademola Lookman was nearly on the verge of scoring another when his diving header made it 3-1 just before the hour mark. This marked his last contribution, as he was substituted for Julian Alvarez.

Atletico maintained complete control, with Sorloth’s shot hitting the post and Espanyol’s Cyril Ngonge seeing a volley strike the crossbar during their first real opportunity of the second half.

Securing the Victory

Sorloth eventually found the back of the net again with a commanding header, sealing the victory for Atletico. Although Thiago Almada missed a chance from Sorloth’s assist, Edu Exposito managed to grab a late consolation goal for Espanyol ten minutes from the end.

Despite this setback, Atletico Madrid demonstrated an impressive response following Real Betis’ draw with Rayo Vallecano.

Current Standings

With this victory, Atletico now matches Villarreal on points, while Espanyol’s hopes for a top-four finish seem dim, remaining in sixth place and seven points behind Betis.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid)

Check out the match stats here.