Espanyol 0-1 Atlético de Madrid: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Atlético de Madrid won it

The opening goal came in the 89th minute: Álex Baena for Atlético de Madrid, set up by Julián Alvarez. There was no time to answer it.

It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.

The referee, A. Hernández Hernández, showed 7 yellow cards: 2 to Espanyol and 5 to Atlético de Madrid.

Espanyol: J. González Álvarez, 5-4-1 · Atlético de Madrid: D. Simeone, 4-4-2.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was RCD Espanyol +0.75 at 1.83. On 0-1 it lost half: half the stake came back.

The estimate's most likely result was an Atlético de Madrid win at 48%, and that is what happened. Its single most likely score was 1-1 (13%).

The goals dried up: the estimate expected about 2.7 and the match produced one.

Over 2.5 goals had been put at 51%; with 1 goal the under came in, against the way the estimate leaned.

Both teams to score was 54%; they did not both score, against the estimate.

The bookmakers, margin removed, had an Atlético de Madrid win at 52%, the same lean as Moneyball.

Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-10-09, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 1.39 for Espanyol and 0.54 for Atlético de Madrid.

Espanyol scored about 1.4 fewer than their chances were worth: poor finishing, or a goalkeeper at his best.

Espanyol created the better chances, 1.39 xG to 0.54, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

The run of play itself went against the pre-match reading: Moneyball expected Atlético de Madrid to create more, and Espanyol did.

Espanyol had 2 shots on target, Atlético de Madrid 6.

Espanyol's goalkeeper made 5 saves.

Atlético de Madrid had 71% of the ball and turned it into the win.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Espanyol came into it with 9 La Liga matches played, scoring 1.2 and conceding 1.3 a match, with 1.32 expected goals for and 1.17 against, and had won 22% of their matches.

Atlético de Madrid came into it with 9 La Liga matches played, scoring 2.1 and conceding 0.9 a match, with 1.72 expected goals for and 1.07 against, and had won 78% of their matches.

Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Álex Baena (Atlético de Madrid), rated 7.7 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.

Espanyol

• Ángel Fortuño 7.3
• Vanja Drkusic 7.1
• Pol Lozano 7.0
• Leandro Cabrera 6.9
• Bryan Zaragoza 6.9

Atlético de Madrid

• Álex Baena 7.7 1 goal
• Morten Hjulmand 7.6
• Dávid Hancko 7.5
• Julián Alvarez 7.5 1 assist
• Kang-in Lee 7.3

The lowest-rated starter was Ademola Lookman at 6.4. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Espanyol: Racing Santander vs Espanyol Saturday 24 October 2026 · La Liga
• Atlético de Madrid: VfB Stuttgart vs Atlético de Madrid Tuesday 20 October 2026 · Champions League

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid

What was the score in Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid?

Espanyol 0-1 Atlético de Madrid (half-time 0-0), La Liga, Saturday 17 October 2026.

Who scored in Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid?

Álex Baena 89'.

Did Moneyball predict Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid correctly?

Moneyball's pick on the Match Board was RCD Espanyol +0.75 at 1.83. On 0-1 it lost half: half the stake came back.

Who was man of the match in Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid?

Álex Baena, rated 7.7 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid?

A. Hernández Hernández.