Atlético Madrid Vs Espanyol: Sorloth Steers Comeback to Secure 4-2 Win
In a La Liga clash at the Metropolitano, Atlético overturned an early deficit to beat Espanyol 4-2, a result that keeps momentum ticking before a midweek European fixture. The match, framed as atlético madrid vs espanyol in a contest of quick swings and clinical finishing, delivered four different scorers for the hosts and raised questions about defensive moments that allowed two away goals.
Atlético Madrid Vs Espanyol: Sorloth’s double and the final 4-2 scoreline
Sorloth scored Atlético’s first and last goals to secure the three points, finishing with a brace in the 4-2 win. The Norwegian’s first struck 15 minutes after Espanyol had taken the lead, meeting Marcos Llorente’s cross with a first-time finish from the edge of the six-yard box. His second arrived later in the half when he headed off the inside of the upright, following an earlier shot that hit the post.
Early opening from Jofre Carreras set the tone
Espanyol took the lead just six minutes in when Tyrhys Dolan was released down the right and bent a low cross into the box. Marcos Llorente’s attempted clearance struck Jofre Carreras, who bundled the ball into the net to make it 1-0. Simeone later described that opening goal as a combination of luck and a defensive misinterpretation.
Giuliano Simeone and Ademola Lookman extend the lead
Atletico’s pressure eventually yielded a second-half breakthrough. In the 49th minute Giuliano Simeone finished off a team move by slotting a shot through Marko Dmitrovic’s legs to give the hosts the lead. Nine minutes later, an unmarked Ademola Lookman met Matteo Ruggeri’s whipped cross with a diving header to make it 3-1.
Late Espanyol response and unanswered questions for Jan Oblak
Espanyol’s Edu Exposito pulled one back when his shot deflected beyond Jan Oblak after Atlético failed to clear a corner, narrowing the margin but failing to spark a full turnaround. Diego Simeone noted that on Espanyol’s second goal his goalkeeper didn’t see the ball coming out, and he also cited a struck crossbar as one of three incidents that attacked Atlético in the match.
Diego Simeone praises squad as attention turns to Brugge
Coach Diego Simeone described the result as an “important, necessary victory” and hailed it as a “great team effort, ” saying the players kept looking for the game he wanted after the early setback. He stressed that Atlético are competing on multiple fronts—mentioning the Champions League and the Copa del Rey—and admitted the league standing remains a work in progress.
Simeone also referenced the upcoming tie, noting it’s “always important to win before an important match like Tuesday’s, ” adding that Brugge had rotated in their domestic game and that the European kickoff is at 6: 45 p. m., meaning Atlético will need high energy levels. He asked supporters to help provide that energy, saying, “I hope people understand how important it is for the players’ energy levels to be high. ”
The coach singled out contributions from players used in different roles, praising a performance that included a “fantastic assist” to Giuliano and lauding a player he identified as Baena for hard work, vision and collective play. He also reflected on a recent Champions League fixture, describing a prior 3-3 draw as a “wild” afternoon and noting he spoke ahead of the first leg on Thursday.
What makes this notable is how Atlético responded structurally after conceding early—pressure and position-play generated two quick second-half goals that swung the match decisively in their favor. The three concrete moments that changed the game were the sixth-minute opener, Sorloth’s equaliser about 15 minutes later, and the 49th-minute strike that put Atlético in front, with the hosts ultimately collecting three points.
The win keeps Atlético’s momentum intact domestically and sends them into their next European test buoyed by a performance Simeone described as built on collective intensity, even as defensive lapses remain an area the coach highlighted for attention.
