Julián Alvarez missed a few key chances to score for Atlético Madrid as Barcelona ended up winning a pivotal match in La Liga, 2-1. Those chances also represented a chance to redeem himself among Atléti’s faithful after a transfer saga that soured their relationship. But it wasn’t to be, and Barça came away with the victory.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad performance from the Argentine, who set up Atléti’s lone goal after assisting his compatriot, Giuliano Simeone, in the opening minutes. However, the narrative
fallout is hard to escape: Alvarez spent most of the summer trying to join Barcelona. Atlético didn’t let him go.
The first chance came in the sixth minute, when Koke played him on one-against-one against Joan Garcia, Barcelona’s goalkeeper. Alvarez tried to dribble the keeper, but Garcia was able to get a hand on the ball, slow up the run, and ultimately force Alvarez into a pass that was deflected behind for a corner.
Then, in the 26th, with the score 1-0 in Atlético’s favor, Alvarez was able to beat Pau Cubarsí in the box and get a shot off. Garcia once again denied him, in a shot that bounced off and was alive for a half-second before the keeper scooped it back up.
The final chance Alvarez had was in the 55th minute, with the score tied at 1-1. Once again, he beat Barcelona’s offside trap. With the ball bouncing outside the box, the Argentine attempted a lob from distance. His shot was a little too high and sailed harmlessly over the top of the goal.
The game was played at Atlético’s home, the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, and the home fans jeered and whistled in complaint after each miss from Alvarez.
Instead of Alvarez writing the headline, it was Fermín López who stole the show. He was Barcelona’s hero, scoring two goals to power the Catalans to a much-needed victory that keeps them atop La Liga.
Atléti’s boss, Diego Simeone, who is Giuliano’s father, has not given up on Alvarez despite a tepid beginning to the season. One of the best center-forwards in the world, Alvarez has a lot to offer and seemed to be on his way to normalcy after the transfer saga in the summer seemingly disrupted his rhythm and confidence. Now, media are speculating that those misses might disrupt his relationship with his team’s fans again.
Rumors are divided on whether Barcelona will launch another attempt to sign Alvarez in the future. Deco has previously said that Alvarez is “in the past” as far as Barca are concerned.
