A chilly afternoon in Madrid proved to be a warm welcome home for Los Rojiblancos, as they secured a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Alavés in their first league game at the Metropolitano in 2026.
The victory sees Los Colchoneros go level on points with Villarreal, who have a match in hand.
Atleti were not short on chances, finishing with their second-highest shot count of the year, and they appeared firmly in control for most of the match. The lone goal from Alexander Sørloth, three minutes after
halftime, ultimately sealed the team’s ninth home win in 10 tries.
Here are Into the Calderón’s player ratings from this afternoon’s match:
Player Ratings
Jan Oblak: Outside of the opening minutes, Alavés did not trouble Jan Oblak’s net much. 5
Matteo Ruggeri: A very average performance for the Italian. Did he do anything particularly bad? No. Did he do anything particularly good? No. This type of fixture is honestly the perfect setting for Ruggeri. He did just enough to get by. 5
Dávid Hancko: You Shall Not Pass! Hancko once again proved he is the signing of the season. With only one lost tackle the entire match, six clearances, and four recoveries, the Slovakia international refused to let Alavés get close to bothering Oblak’s goal. What a player. 8
Marc Pubill: Another excellent outing for Pubill, who continues to grow in confidence with each appearance. He was composed on the ball, decisive in his challenges, and rarely caught out of position. His reading of the game allowed Atleti to snuff out danger early, and he consistently stepped in to break up play before Alavés could build any momentum. He is starting to form one of Spain’s most formidable defensive partnerships with Hancko. 7
Marcos Llorente: A solid and disciplined outing for Llorente. He was not overly troubled out of possession and showed good positioning and awareness. When given the opportunity, he was able to drift into advanced areas, adding an extra dimension going forward. He delivered several quality passes in the final third and maintained balance between attack and defense while keeping his flank secure throughout. 7
Thiago Almada: It appears as Simeone gave his compatriot one final chance to prove himself amidst a slew of transfer rumors since the start of the new year. Unfortunately, the Argentine was unable to capitalize with his opportunity. Unlucky to not score at the end of the first half and should have done more with his chance in the 60th minute. As January progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Almada saga develops. 5
Johnny Cardoso: The Ultimate Disrupter. Whether it was a foul or a tackle, Johnny stopped several Alavés attacks well before they could get started. He was aggressive in midfield, closed down space quickly, and consistently made life uncomfortable for Alavés’ ball carriers. His physical presence and willingness to engage set the tone in the center of the pitch. As the American continues to grow and develop in his career, he will hopefully turn those fouls into clean, well-timed challenges. 6
Pablo Barrios: A brilliant cross into Sørloth keyed the game’s only goal. Whether it was tracking back to help with recoveries and blocks, or pushing forward to provide several decisive passes and crosses, Pablito once again showed his class and why he is one of the best midfielders in LaLiga this season. My player of the match and player of the season thus far. 8
Giuliano Simeone: Fresh off inking a new long-term deal with a €500 million release clause, Simeone didn’t miss a beat and continued doing what he does best by showing frenetic pressing and high energy from the very start of the match. Subbed off for Koke in the 62nd minute. 7
Alexander Sørloth: A brilliant header. He knew he had space, took his time, and thumped it past Antonio Sivera to score right as the second half started. Overall, a solid outing for the Norwegian; he appears to be picking up some form when he’s trusted to start, as he’s got a goal in his last three starts. He came off for Molina in the 86th minute. 7
Julián Alvarez: Alvarez certainly had his chances in the hour he played but was unable to capitalize, and his run of poor form continues for yet another match. His movement off the ball was encouraging at times, when he found pockets of space and got into dangerous positions, but the final touch and composure in front of goal were lacking. He worked hard defensively and pressed willingly from the front, though that effort did not translate into end product. Hopefully, the extra rest will help the Argentine reset and return to his goal-scoring form in the midweek Champions League match in Turkey. 5
Substitutes
Antoine Griezmann: Made way for Alvarez in the 62nd minute. A quiet appearance. He helped serve as an attacking threat but did not get much of an opportunity to truly be that threat. 5
Koke: Subbed on for Giuliano in the 62nd minute. Brought on to give the midfield stability and helped defend the lead. 6
Álex Baena: Swapped in for Almada in the 62nd minute. He was unlucky to see his rocket from just inside the box hit the post in the 70th minute. Simeone will depend on the Spaniard for the Galatasaray match on Wednesday. 5
Robin Le Normand: Brought on for Johnny Cardoso in the 78th minute. It appears that Le Normand is slowly becoming an afterthought amid Pubill’s consistent form. It will be interesting to see how this evolves when Josema Giménez too is back in consideration for minutes. n/a
Nahuel Molina: Entered the match in the 86th minute, for Sørloth, to reinforce the defense. n/a
