Baena rescues Atletico with last-minute goal against Espanyol

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Baena rescues Atletico with last-minute goal against Espanyol.

Atletico Madrid secured a last-minute victory over Espanyol on October 17, 2026 – and Ángel Baena was the player who struck in the decisive seconds. If you're an Atletico fan, you know: these wins taste extra sweet because in the end, they were far from inevitable.

The Almería-born striker decided the match with a "gran gol" – a great goal – in the closing minutes and secured three points in La Liga for the Madrid side. It was already Baena's fifth goal of the season in the Spanish top flight. Espanyol had proven an uncomfortable opponent throughout the match. The team pushed back against the favorites from the capital and dragged Atletico into a fight in which neither side could clearly dominate.

The Almería-born player confirms himself as the most decisive player for the Rojiblancos with his fifth league goal.

Why Baena is becoming increasingly important for Atletico

The goal against Espanyol fits a pattern emerging this season at Atletico Madrid. When the Rojiblancos need a player who can make an impact in the decisive moments, the ball goes to Baena – and the striker from Almería delivers. His fifth league goal underlines this role. El País chooses a clear formulation: Baena is the most decisive player in the Madrid squad.

Espanyol fights – and still loses

The Catalans held their ground for long stretches and made it difficult for Atletico. That they ultimately left the pitch as losers was down to the individual quality of a single player. Espanyol had their game plan, Atletico had Baena – and in such moments, the class of individual actors decides the result. What you take away as a neutral observer: Espanyol did nothing wrong on the day, but luck and class went against them.

Three points that could count for the season

Atletico takes three points from this match – three points that were hard-earned in the end. In a La Liga where every point can decide between the title race and mid-table, a last-minute win like this has double value. It brings not just points, but also confidence for the tasks ahead.