Baena rescues Atlético at Espanyol as Lookman misses his chance

Atlético Madrid won on Saturday 17 October a game they had dominated for long periods without managing to settle it. An Álex Baena strike in the 89th minute gave them victory at Espanyol (0–1) in the ninth round of La Liga. Atlético move up to 22 points and extend their run to five successive league wins. Espanyol remain on eight points.

Possession was not enough to break down the defence

Atlético held the ball, played much of the game in the opposition half and piled up the attempts. They finish with 70.6% possession, 19 shots to 10 and 12 corners to 4. Even so, they had to wait until the closing minutes to break the Catalan defence.

That gap between territory and result is the main attacking lesson. The domination was not hollow, but turning it into a goal remained laborious. Edu Fortuño also helped keep Espanyol in the game: his five saves mean this resistance cannot be put down simply to Madrid's wastefulness.

Lookman: an insufficient first half

Ademola Lookman had a place in the starting eleven. The Nigeria international did not make enough of it in attack and was replaced by Julián Álvarez at half-time. In a game that called for disrupting a compact defensive block, his contribution remained too quiet.

The verdict has to be plain: this was a missed opportunity for him. His status and his qualities should not lead anyone to gloss over those 45 minutes. That does not, however, justify pinning the team's difficulties on him alone, nor claiming that his withdrawal by itself explains the win. Atlético still waited almost until the end of the second half before scoring.

The substitutes find the answer

Marcos Llorente hit the bar after coming on. Baena, also introduced in the second half, eventually found the way through. His late goal rewards Madrid's persistence, while underlining the contribution of the bench in a game where the starting eleven had failed to break the deadlock.

Espanyol were not mere spectators. Leandro Cabrera hit the bar before the break and Jan Oblak still had to deal with Pol Lozano in added time. Those chances are a reminder of how fragile a one-goal lead is: even after finally scoring, Atlético still had to protect the three points.

SNA man of the match: Álex Baena

Our choice is Baena. In a game whose outcome hinged on a moment of quality capable of overcoming stubborn resistance, he delivered the decision. Fortuño deserves a strong mention too: the beaten goalkeeper long allowed his side to believe in a draw.

For Atlético, this win confirms their ability to pick up points when the game does not quickly offer a solution. Our reservation concerns the reliance on a late decision: against opponents more efficient with their own chances, the same scenario could prove costly. For Espanyol, who started Morocco's Omar El Hilali, the defensive resistance was creditable; it does not make up for the chances that went begging.