Alex Baena’s late strike secured a 1‑0 victory for Atlético Madrid over Espanyol at the Cornellà stadium, tightening the race for La Liga leaders Barcelona. The win, coming in the 89th minute, gave Atlético their sixth straight triumph across all competitions and left the Rojiblancos two points behind champions Barcelona, who will face third‑placed Real Betis in their next outing.
The match was tightly contested from the start, with both sides creating chances in the first half. Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera hit the crossbar early, while Atlético’s Marcos Llorente also struck the same woodwork with a long‑range effort after the hour mark. The game’s turning point arrived when Baena, receiving a pass from Julián Álvarez, shot from the edge of the box to finish the game. Álvarez, who has returned to form after a summer of transfer speculation, was instrumental in the build‑up, and his contribution helped Atlético secure the win. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a crucial stop in stoppage time to deny Espanyol a late equaliser from Pol Lozano, preserving the three points.
Espanyol’s lineup saw Javi Puado come on for the injured captain, marking his first appearance since January. Despite the late goal, the Catalans could not capitalize on their chances, and the match ended in a narrow defeat. Atlético’s victory keeps them firmly in second place, while Barcelona remains on top of the table, with only a single point separating the two sides.
Away from the pitch, Real Madrid’s coach José Mourinho commented on the recent suspension of Vinícius Júnior, who was banned for four matches after a hair‑pulling incident. Mourinho expressed frustration over the length of the ban and suggested that if he were in Vinícius’s position, he might have left Madrid during the summer. He praised the Brazilian’s talent and resilience, noting that the player’s contract now ties him to the club until 2032. The suspension means Vinícius will miss the upcoming clásico against Barcelona on 25 October.
The rest of the weekend’s fixtures include Real Madrid hosting Sevilla, while in other leagues Borussia Dortmund face Union Berlin, Bayern Munich play RB Leipzig, Napoli visit Venezia, Inter travel to Bologna, Paris Saint‑Germain take on Strasbourg, and Lille host Brest. Atlético’s late win adds pressure on Barcelona as the title race heats up, and the next round of fixtures will test whether the Rojiblancos can maintain their momentum or if rivals close the gap.