Espanyol 0-1 Atlético Madrid: two substitutes combine for an 89th-minute winner

Atlético Madrid won 0-1 at RCDE Stadium on Saturday, a goalless game decided a minute from full time by two players who had only just come off the bench. Álex Baena scored in the 89th minute, finishing off a move started by fellow substitute Julián Álvarez, to make it six straight wins for Atlético across all competitions.

Espanyol had the better of very little across the 90 minutes — 29.4% of the possession and just two shots on target to Atlético's six — but held out until deep into the second half. Diego Simeone's side made five substitutions after the hour, and it was two of them who combined for the winner. Espanyol finished the game with two yellow cards to Atlético's five, Morten Hjulmand, Lee Kang-In, Cristian Romero, Baena himself and Rodrigo Mendoza all booked for the visitors across the afternoon.

Match facts

• 89' — Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid), assisted by Julián Álvarez, 0-1

Match stats

Form going in

Atlético arrived unbeaten in five across competitions — four straight LaLiga wins plus a 2-0 win over Manchester United in the Champions League — and the clean sheet extends that run. Espanyol, by contrast, had managed only one win in their previous four league games before kick-off, a run that already included back-to-back defeats to Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano. Saturday's loss, with no goal of their own to show for it, continues that stretch of struggle in front of goal.

Where it leaves both sides

Espanyol had gone into the round 12th on 8 points from eight games, level on points with several mid-table sides but with a goal difference of zero. Atlético had been second on 19, level with Real Betis and five points behind leaders Barcelona. The win nudges Atlético's goal difference further clear of the chasing pack, while Espanyol stay in the bottom half with work to do. Atlético host Deportivo next, on 24 October, while Espanyol travel to Racing Santander the same day.