Atlético Madrid won in LaLiga for the first time since Jan. 25, as Alexander Sørloth’s brace helped the Rojiblancos overcome ice-cold Espanyol at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Saturday night.

After Jofre Carreras finished off a counterattack with the opening goal five minutes into the game, Sørloth slotted home from Marcos Llorente’s cross to equalize on 20 minutes before Giuliano Simeone finished off a sumptuous move with a sharp finish on 48 minutes. Ademola Lookman added another goal with a diving header from a corner about 10 minutes later, and Sørloth hit a thumping header off the post beyond Marko Dmitrović to put the result beyond any doubt. Edu Expósito’s consolation goal fortunately remained just that.

In the end, Atlético were fairly comfortable and created valuable breathing space inside the top four. I have a few more takeaways beyond that below.

Diego Simeone needed to rotate a little on Saturday, but he also needed a performance. Simeone had to swat aside questions about his side’s motivation in the past week, while majority shareholder Miguel Ángel Gil stopped by team training in Majadahonda on Friday for his annual springtime “encouragement” to the players to keep hold of a Champions League spot.

Jofre’s opener sowed a little doubt, but Atlético quickly turned it around as they committed to a three-at-the-back setup that featured Antoine Griezmann floating between the midfield and the forward lines. It resulted in Atleti putting four past this opponent for the first time since 2009.

With Johnny Cardoso capably breaking up play and growing more with the ball as the game progressed, Griezmann and Álex Baena were able to move around and stretch the Espanyol low block, pulling defenders out of position with each off-ball run. Llorente’s recovery of a scuffed Urko González clearance led to the equalizer; Sørloth attacking the channel and pulling back for Griezmann gave the Frenchman a hockey assist on Giuliano’s goal.

Lookman was kept under close surveillance again, another opponent understanding how dangerous Atleti’s new signing can be. No matter, though. The Nigerian pounced on Matteo Ruggeri’s near-post flick to head in for 3-1, the eventual winning goal and his fourth in six appearances for the club.

Of course, this version of the 3-4-3 would not have worked without Sørloth’s complete display. The Norwegian had arguably his finest game since he notched a poker against Real Sociedad nine months ago (though his outing against PSV in December gave it a run). He pressed, he combined (unselfishly teeing up Thiago Almada for a golden opportunity at 4-1 up) and he could have had a hat trick himself. Now on nine goals in LaLiga, the Norwegian is on course to be Atleti’s top scorer in the league for a second successive season.

I know. I’m writing the takeaways again and Marc Pubill gets his own capsule. But you have to allow me this.

Over a whirlwind few months, Pubill has gone from third-choice right-back to first-choice central defender with genuine national team prospects. On Saturday, he had one of his most interesting outings yet, stepping in to build moves in the midfield line. The verticality really helped as Atlético struggled to break lines in the first half; Pubill completed 58 of 66 passes attempted in the first 45 minutes. For the game, he completed 86/98 passes, the majority of them in the Espanyol half.

Out of possession, Pubill made 13 clearances and continued his aerial domination, winning six of seven headed duels. The big Catalan has won 89 percent of his aerial duels in LaLiga and 77 percent of his individual duels overall. Combined with his pace, stride and ball-carrying, Pubill’s value is growing every game. How much would it cost Atleti to buy him now? €80 million?

Thank goodness that is a question that the club doesn’t have to answer. In 776 minutes with Pubill on the pitch in LaLiga, Atlético have conceded five goals, two of those on Saturday. They have a 6-2-1 record when he starts in the league. Mateu Alemany should get to work renewing his contract.

Álex Baena demonstrated his value

Now that’s more like it from Atlético’s number 10.

One of the pitfalls of sportswriting is how quickly people can make something you’ve written look pretty foolish. Mere hours after I labeled Baena’s form to date as a “major disappointment,” he went out against Espanyol and created five chances — tied for his highest mark of the season. His slick 49th-minute assist for Giuliano Simeone completed a sensational team move.

Deployed to Cardoso’s left in a makeshift midfield trio, Baena had plenty of opportunity to carry the ball and poke holes in Espanyol’s 5-4-1 shape. This is exactly why you sign Baena; his vision and playmaking are huge pluses in a team that can afford him the time and structure to push the ball toward goal.

“He gave Giuliano a fantastic assist, typical of a player who knows and sees (the play),” Cholo Simeone said post-match. “We need the Baena we saw today.”

That assist was Baena’s first since the 5-2 win over Real Madrid on Sept. 27. With Club Brugge coming to the Metropolitano on Tuesday following a 3-3 draw at Jan Breydelstadion last week, the 24-year-old could not have picked a better time to recover some form.