Espanyol Shock Atlético Madrid With Thrilling Comeback Win

Espanyol made a big impact in their first LaLiga game. They came from behind to beat Atlético Madrid 2-1 in Barcelona. The home fans were excited, while Atlético felt disappointed.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Atlético Madrid seemed ready to win after a great free kick by new player Julián Álvarez in the 37th minute. Espanyol was losing until the 73rd minute. Then, Miguel Rubio scored to tie the game. Just eleven minutes later, Pere Milla scored the winning goal. This gave Espanyol the victory and gave Atlético their first opening loss in LaLiga since 2011, when Diego Simeone became the coach. Espanyol now has three points from one game. Atlético earned nothing even though they controlled most of the game.

ATLÉTICO’S NEW ERA AND ESPANYOL’S RESILIENCE

Atlético Madrid started the season after a busy transfer period. Alongside Álvarez who joined last season, other players arrived like Alex Baena, David Hancko, Johnny Cardoso, and Giacomo Raspadori, with reports indicating that they are close to finalizing the signing of Raspadori from Napoli. This was after finishing third last season, twelve points behind Barcelona. The team lost Angel Correa, Rodrigo De Paul, and Cesar Azpilicueta. Despite trying to be stronger, Atlético missed the chance to keep up with their rivals. Barcelona started their season with a 3-0 win against Mallorca. Real Madrid has yet to play against Osasuna.

Espanyol, a team that recently struggled to stay in LaLiga, and were close to being relegated until the last matchday of the season, made a strong statement with this win. They showed grit and determination. This could define their season.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Espanyol wants to keep their good start going. They want to stay on track and avoid trouble early. Atlético Madrid is “hurt” by this loss and must focus on stopping defensive errors. The next few weeks are important. Coach Diego Simeone’s team needs to catch up with the leaders. Espanyol feels confident visiting Real Sociedad. Atlético faces a big challenge to show they can still compete after this early setback when they host newly-promoted Elche to try and get a win in their 2nd match of the season.