MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata scored for the sixth game in a row to help his side to a 3-1 win at home to struggling Espanyol on Sunday, taking them up to third in La Liga.
Espanyol, who have only won twice in the league this season, took the lead against the run of play in the 38th minute when midfielder Sergi Darder fired home from just outside the area.
Atletico levelled on the stroke of halftime when Angel Correa glanced a header over the line following a goal-bound cross from Morata, with the goal eventually being awarded following a VAR review for a possible offside.
The home side had a penalty appeal turned down early in the second half after another VAR review but eventually took the lead in the 58th minute when Morata raced on to a pass from Vitolo and lashed the ball past visiting keeper Diego Lopez.
Koke struck the third in stoppage time, controlling a cut-back from Diego Costa and rolling the ball into the net to seal a much-needed win after five draws in Atleti's last six league games and defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
The victory sees Atletico climb above Real Sociedad into third on 24 points after 13 games, one behind leaders Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid who each have a game in hand.
(Reporting by Richard Martin; editing by Ken Ferris)