Does Alex Peina deserve to compete for the Ballon d'Or?

Alex Baena continues to establish his place within Atlético Madrid, becoming one of the key players relied upon by coach Diego Simeone, thanks to his impressive statistics and increasing impact on the team's performance. This opens the door for discussions regarding his name among the candidates competing for the Ballon d'Or.

According to Spanish newspaper 'Marca', Baena is delivering impressive performances despite not receiving the media and marketing attention that many football stars enjoy. He has scored five goals and provided three assists in 11 matches, and he has previously won the World Cup, having also claimed the European Championship.

The Spanish player is starting to show a more mature side, responding to the expectations surrounding him since last season, becoming one of the important assets in Atlético's lineup, thanks to his ability to make a difference and contribute to deciding matches.

Paina plays a significant role within the team, reminiscent of the role that Frenchman Antoine Griezmann played for years in Atlético. This enhances the discussion about the possibility of the Spanish player receiving greater recognition, both locally and internationally, if he continues to deliver the same levels of performance.

Atlético have ended their hoodoo at the RCD Espanyol Barcelona stadium.

In a related context, Atlético's recent victory over RCD Espanyol Barcelona carried additional importance as it put an end to their negative streak at the RCDE Stadium, which had been a hurdle for the Madrid team during previous visits, ending in two draws and a defeat.

The victory came after a match that was characterized by difficulty, before Alex Baena sealed it with a late goal, giving his team three valuable points away from home and confirming his growing role in crucial moments.

This was not the first win that Atlético has secured to end one of their away streaks recently, as they had previously triumphed a week ago at the Mendizorrotza Stadium, where the team had also struggled during their previous visits.

These results reflect Atlético's ability to overcome the difficulties they faced in some stadiums, while Baena continues to strengthen his presence as one of the key playmakers in Simeone's lineup.