Atlético Madrid 3-1 RCD Espanyol: Morata’s sixth goal in six guides Atlético

It wasn’t easy — nor was it pretty — but Atlético Madrid sealed all three points at the Wanda Metropolitano on a blustery Sunday afternoon.

Aside from the three points that keep Atlético in the race for LaLiga, Álvaro Morata scored his sixth goal in six games. In the 59th minute, Atlético attacked down the middle and Vitolo fed Morata. He buried it to hand Atlético a 2-1 lead after Ángel Correa had brought the colchoneros level in first half stoppage time. Sergi Darder had given Espanyol the advantage after 38 minutes.

Morata has scored seven goals in all competitions this season, and six have come in the last six games. The run started against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and has seen him hit the net against Athletic Club, Alavés and Sevilla, along with Leverkusen again.

Never in his career has he scored in six games in a row. The ex-Chelsea forward scored six goals for Atlético last season in half a year after his move from England, but he has outdone himself now with almost two months until Christmas.

The win also means Atlético are just one point off Real Madrid and Barcelona despite a shoddy start to the season. It is just the second time in 13 games in LaLiga that they have scored three goals in a game, the only other time coming against Eibar in another come-from-behind win at the Wanda, one which finished 3-2.