Álex Baena strikes in the 89th minute as Atlético close in

Álex Baena delivered a late winner for Atlético Madrid in the 89th minute, edging Espanyol 1-0 at Cornella and squeezing LaLiga’s top race. Diego Simeone’s team are second, two points behind Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, who play Real Betis later.

The game was tight. In the first half, Leandro Cabrera hit the crossbar for Espanyol, and after an hour Marcos Llorente struck the same woodwork with a long-range effort. Baena then smashed in from the edge of the box after a pass from Julián Álvarez.

Atlético have often left it late this season, and they did it again. Jan Oblak made a late save in stoppage time from Pol Lozano to secure the three points, and Atlético have now won six straight matches across all competitions.

Ahead of Sunday’s Real Madrid clash with Sevilla, José Mourinho said on Saturday that if he were Vinícius Júnior he would have left this summer. The Brazilian was sent off last weekend and received a four-match ban, meaning he misses the clásico on 25 October. The Guardian adds that Mourinho believed the disciplinary committee could have gone even further.