Atletico Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Girona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, with Alejandro Lookman's early strike proving decisive in a tightly contested La Liga clash.
Atletico Madrid entered the match sitting fourth in La Liga with 66 points from 36 games. Girona, meanwhile, occupied 15th place with 40 points and arrived in poor form, winless in their last five matches. The hosts sought to build on recent success, while the visitors desperately needed points to climb away from the lower reaches of the table.
Lookman struck early to give Atletico the advantage. In the 21st minute, the forward found the back of the net to put the home side ahead. Just two minutes later, defender Robin Le Normand received a yellow card for a foul, signaling the physical nature of the contest to come.
Atletico controlled possession for large stretches of the first half. The hosts created chances and tested Girona's defense with their direct approach. Girona, however, remained compact and organized, limiting clear-cut opportunities despite Atletico's dominance in midfield.
The away side showed resilience and began to build momentum as the first half progressed. Azzedine Ounahi emerged as a key threat for Girona, firing three shots on target and creating multiple chances for teammates. The visitors grew into the match and pressed higher up the pitch.
At the interval, Atletico held their 1-0 lead. The hosts had registered four shots on target compared to Girona's three. Expected goals favored Girona slightly at 1.94 to Atletico's 1.75, suggesting the visitors had created the better opportunities despite trailing.
The second half saw Girona dominate possession and territory. The visitors pushed forward relentlessly, searching for an equalizer. Ounahi continued to trouble Atletico's defense with his movement and shooting. Jan Oblak proved crucial in goal, making several important saves to preserve the lead.
Atletico's defense stood firm under sustained pressure. Le Normand made seven tackles to anchor the backline. Antoine Griezmann provided crucial defensive support while maintaining attacking threat, registering one assist and two shots on target.
Girona created numerous chances but lacked a clinical edge in front of goal. The visitors finished with 10 shots on target compared to Atletico's four. Despite their pressure, they could not find a way past Oblak, who delivered a commanding performance with 11 saves.
Late in the match, Girona midfielder J. Morcillo received a yellow card in the 85th minute as frustration mounted. The visitors pushed hard in the final stages but could not break through. Atletico's defensive discipline held firm to secure the three points.
Atletico completed 85% of their passes, with 423 total passes compared to Girona's 454. The hosts took 16 shots with nine off target, while Girona fired 22 shots overall. Possession favored Girona at 52% to Atletico's 48%, yet the hosts' efficiency decided the contest.
The victory moves Atletico closer to securing Champions League football next season. Girona's defeat deepens their struggles in the lower half of the table. The result underscores how one moment of quality can prove decisive in tight La Liga encounters.
