Julian Alvarez delivered a dramatic 90th-minute winner as Atletico Madrid snatched a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Thursday in the Spanish football league. In a game where Atletico struggled to find their rhythm, it was Alvarez, the Argentina international, who made the difference. Coming off the bench, Alvarez latched onto a precise cross from Antoine Griezmann, finishing at the back post to secure all three points for Diego Simeone’s side.
Even a single point would have flattered Atletico Madrid, who were lackluster for much of the match, especially in attack. Celta Vigo, who had the better chances, will feel hard done by the result, particularly after Atletico failed to register a single shot on target in a dismal first half.
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak kept Atletico in the game with several crucial saves, including a brilliant stop to deny Iago Aspas just before halftime and another close-range header from Borja Iglesias after 57 minutes. Despite Celta’s dominance, they couldn’t capitalize, and Atletico punished them in the dying moments.
Simeone acknowledged his side’s struggles, especially in the first half, saying, “We didn’t play well in attack in the first half.” However, he praised the impact of his substitutes, including Alvarez, who provided the creative spark needed to claim the victory. “The subs gave us a bit more creativity to be able to win the game,” Simeone added.
Making his first start for Atletico, Simeone’s son, Giuliano, showed promise, but it was Alvarez, a summer signing from Manchester City, who stole the show. Reflecting on the match, Alvarez said, “(Scoring) helps for confidence, and it’s always great to help the team. These are three important points.”
The victory lifts Atletico Madrid to third place in the league, setting the stage for their crucial derby clash against Real Madrid on Sunday. Despite the win, Atletico will need to step up their performance against the reigning champions if they hope to secure another positive result.
Elsewhere, Ayoze Perez netted twice to secure Villarreal a 2-1 win over Espanyol, pushing them to fourth in the standings. Meanwhile, Real Betis could only manage a 1-1 draw against Las Palmas, while Barcelona and Real Madrid remain at the top of the league after narrow victories.
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