Alexander Sørloth scored twice as Atlético Madrid came from behind to beat Espanyol 4-2, ending a winless LaLiga run and restoring momentum.
Atlético Madrid returned to winning ways in LaLiga with a 4-2 home victory over Espanyol. The result ended a short winless run that had stalled momentum. Diego Simeone’s side responded well after conceding early. A brace from Alexander Sørloth and goals from Ademola Lookman and Giuliano Simeone saw Atleti snap out of a three-game winless run in the league.
The hosts entered the contest having taken just one point from their previous three league games. Pressure had begun to build after consecutive defeats. Espanyol, meanwhile, arrived low on confidence after seven matches without a win. The match quickly developed into an open contest.
Atlético suffered an early setback just six minutes in. Espanyol broke down the right and delivered a low cross into the area. Marcos Llorente’s attempted clearance struck Jofre Carreras and bounced into the net. The goal stunned the home crowd and gave the visitors belief.
Espanyol briefly pressed higher following the opener. Atlético needed composure to regain control. Their response was swift and increasingly assertive. Possession tilted firmly in their favour.
Atlético levelled after 21 minutes through Sørloth. Llorente atoned for his earlier error with a precise delivery. Sørloth met the cross first time from close range and finished calmly. The goal shifted the momentum decisively.
The hosts continued to push forward before half time. Antoine Griezmann tested Marko Dmitrovic twice with efforts from different angles. Espanyol defended deep and survived until the interval. At 1-1, the game remained finely balanced.
Atlético struck early in the second half to take the lead. Giuliano Simeone finished a slick team move in the 49th minute. A clever pass found him inside the box and he slotted through the goalkeeper’s legs. The stadium responded with renewed energy.
The third goal followed nine minutes later. Ademola Lookman arrived unmarked to head home from Matteo Ruggeri’s cross. Atlético now played with freedom and confidence. Espanyol struggled to stem the pressure.
Sørloth made it 4-1 with a powerful header in the 72nd minute. Ruggeri again provided the delivery from wide. The Norwegian striker struck the post moments earlier and stayed alert. His second goal capped a dominant spell.
Espanyol reduced the deficit late on through Edu Expósito. His deflected effort beat Jan Oblak from the edge of the area. The goal changed little in the closing stages. Atlético managed the game calmly to secure the points.
Atlético finished with 18 shots, nine on target. Their expected goals total reached 3.12. Espanyol managed 11 attempts and an xG of 1.06. Sørloth now leads Atlético’s league scoring with nine goals.
Giuliano Simeone has been directly involved in 14 goals across all competitions this season. Atlético also recorded over 60 percent possession. The statistics reflected their second half control. It was a performance built on intensity and width.
The win keeps Atlético fourth in LaLiga and close to the top three. Confidence will be boosted after recent setbacks. Simeone’s side now turn attention to their next league fixture against Real Oviedo away from home next Saturday. Before that, Atletico will return to action in midweek when they host Club Brugge in the second leg of the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League. Espanyol remain sixth but must regroup quickly to keep their European qualification hopes alive.
