Fortuño kept Atlético out for 88 minutes, and Baena’s winner from the bench put them second in La Liga

Ángel Fortuño had done almost everything right for Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium. He had kept out Jonathan David at his near post, got a hand to a Marcos Llorente shot that came back off the crossbar, and pushed a Julián Álvarez effort away with his fingertips in the 85th minute. Four minutes later, Álex Baena beat him from outside the box.

Atlético Madrid won 1-0. It was their fifth league win in a row and their sixth in all competitions, and it lifts them to second in La Liga on 22 points from nine games, two behind leaders Barcelona.

Fortuño against everyone

Atlético had most of the ball and most of the shots, and for 88 minutes very little to show for it. Fortuño was the main reason, and the one shot that got past his hand came back off the bar.

Espanyol had their moments too. Leandro Cabrera hit the bar from distance a minute before half-time, and Jan Oblak still had a save to make after Baena had scored. Manolo González’s side were not overrun, which will make the result harder to take.

Simeone’s change works

Baena started on the bench. Diego Simeone sent him on for Kang-In Lee in the 62nd minute, he was booked six minutes later, and his finish settled a game Atlético had looked like drawing.

It was not a performance that will worry Barcelona much. But Atlético are winning games like this one now, and over a season that tends to matter more than how well they play.

One point from 12 for Espanyol

Espanyol have now taken one point from their last 12 available. There was some good news, at least: Javi Puado came on in the 82nd minute for his first appearance of the season after a knee injury. They deserved a point here, and Fortuño deserved a lot more than that.

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