That is all from me tonight. Do join Sportskeeda tomorrow for our coverage of the El Clasico, which could well decide the league title in Spain this season. Until then, this is Aaditya Narayan signing off. Do ping me on Twitter at @Aaditya_LFC if you have any thoughts about this game or the Clasico tomorrow. Cheers!
PPPEEEEPPPP!! FULL TIME. Espnayol 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Espanyol's home run is ended, while Atletico Madrid make it 9 games unbeaten courtesy Antoine Griezmann's 100th La Liga goal.
For much of that game, Atletico Madrid were the second best side. They were made to defend and concentrate hard by the sprightly Espanyol attackers. But when the game called out for a moment of quality, Griezmann stepped up with a stunning finish to give Atleti the lead.
Leo Baptistao had a stunning chance to put Espanyol back level immediately, but Jan Oblak made a brilliant save. Atleti were sloppy, uninspired and second best for large parts of the game, but in the end, they got the three points. And that is the most important thing for any side at this stage of the season.
Atleti moved to 68 points, just 4 behind Barcelona, ahead of tomorrow's El Clasico.
90+1' As we head into the first of two added minutes, Reyes looks for a lovely angled ball above the Atleti defense, but it has too much weight on it for Leo Baptistao to conjure anything significant out of it.
88' Griezmann now charges at the Espanyol defense with a driving run from midfield. The defenders keep backing off him and it was almost like they were inviting him to shoot. He did that, but he ends up cutting across it and sending it wide of Diego Lopez's goal.
87' Atleti have been really sloppy since they scored the goal. They have given the ball away far too easily, and it has come about because they have tried to be a little too intricate and clever about things, when keeping it simple was the need of the hour.
85' Saved by Oblak! Leo Baptistao again! He gets the ball in midfield and runs at the Atleti defense before unleashing a shot from outside the area. But Oblak saves and hangs on to it as well. Gerard Moreno is furious that he didn't receive the pass from Baptistao.
85' OOHH! That is almost perfect from Griezmann! Koke breaks up an Espanyol move in midfield and the ball falls to the Frenchman. He plays a through ball looking for Gameiro but Diego Reyes just about cuts it out.
This is a big ten minutes for Atleti now. Their defensive resilience will have to show, as they look to keep this lead and tighten their grip on third spot in La Liga
78' OH NO GERARD MORENO! WHAT A CHANCE AGAIN! The corner is perfect and falls right on the youngster's head in the centre of the six-yard area. But he doesn't get enough contact on it. It ends up being a flicked header that goes wide of the post. Oblak came off his line but was nowhere near the ball.
75' WHAT A SAVE FROM OBLAK! Espanyol nearly hit back straight away, as the ball falls to Leo Baptastao on the edge of the box. He brilliantly nutmegged Filipe Luis, to go one-on-one with Oblak but the Atleti keeper made himself big and got a big chunk of his body behind it. Atleti escape
Another cross from the right wing, and this time Atleti have the breakthrough. The cross was met by Reyes, but it fell to Griezmann on the left side of the box, and he took it first time on the volley to smash it past Diego Lopez and give Atleti a priceless lead!
72' OOOHHHHHHHH!!! Atleti nearly take the lead, Espanyol survive! Lovely play by Atleti down the right flank. It eventually fell for Saul who dinked a ball across the area, Koke headed it back for Gameiro, but his attempted is charged down by Diego Lopez, straight to Filipe Luis. The Brazilian's shot was blocked by Diego Lopez!
71' Gabi wins the ball in midfield, and Saul immediately sprays a lovely pass out wide to Gameiro. He looks to play Partey in behind but that is well read by Diego Reyes to cut it off.
69' Espanyol are panicking slightly in midfield in recent minutes, and giving the ball away too easily. Atleti are tightening the noose here. Gabi plays it out wide to Filipe Luis, but the Brazilian is brought down and Atleti have a free kick in a promising position.
67' Atleti are keeping the ball well inside the Espanyol half, and building some pressure on their opponents. A string of throw-ins on the right side leads to a corner. Can they make anything out of this?
64' Now, it's Atleti who go straight up the other end and find Koke on the edge of the area. But there is a plethora of Espanyol defenders there to block the shot.
