This season, Atletico Madrid didn’t do so well, failing to win any trophies. But even so, the fans have given a thumbs up to one player – he is Julian Alvarez.
In a recent La Liga match, Atletico defeated Real Betis 4-1 at home. The match was played in the 37th round of the 2024/25 season. Although Atletico Madrid did not have as much possession as their opponents (45% vs 55%), they played a disciplined game, making the right choices at the right time to score key goals.
The most colorful player in this match was undoubtedly Alvarez, the striker from Argentina. In the 10th minute of the game, he helped his team open the scoring with a beautiful free kick. The ball flew directly into the corner of the net, and the opponent’s goalkeeper was unable to do anything about it even though he tried to save the ball. By the 75th minute, Griezmann sent an assist to Alvarez for an easy goal. Finally, in stoppage time, he sent another great pass to teammate Correa to make the score finalized at 4-1.
Alvarez and Solos formed a double striker together in a 4-4-2 tactic arranged by Atletico boss Simeone. Although Betis defender Mendy kept him close, he always found space to get away from the defense. His runs were wide and he was always in the perfect position to make good use of the space in front of him to create a threat.
Looking at the stats, this was a very well-rounded game for Alvarez: he finished with 57 touches and 32 passes, 20 of which were accurate (63% accuracy). He also delivered four key passes, created two great chances, made five successful breakaways, won three confrontations (out of a total of seven attempts), and made two successful tackles. In addition to his two goals and one assist, he also had a shot hit the crossbar and missed a good chance.
When he first arrived at Atletico, Alvarez’s form wasn’t particularly consistent. But over time, he has slowly adapted to the life here and the rhythm of the game. Atletico spent 95 million euros to sign him from Manchester City, and now it seems that the money was well spent.
So far, he has made 53 appearances for the Spanish national team, scoring 29 goals and 6 assists. That’s a pretty impressive record to say the least.
But Alvarez’s value goes far beyond goals and assists. He is very active on the field and gives his all, both on offense and defense. He dares to face pressure and never backs down in important games. He can play multiple positions, both as a main striker and on the wing. No matter how Simeone adjusts his tactics, he adapts quickly.
It has been a disappointing season for Atletico. One by one, the goals they had set failed to materialize and burst like bubbles. But this team is still full of ambition and they hope to get back on their feet and play better next season. And with Simeone’s experience as a manager and expertise in strategizing, he knows how to lead the team out of the doldrums.
It is certain that Alvarez will continue to play an important role next season. He is one of the central figures in Simeone’s plans. Atletico have had many great strikers in their history, such as Vieri, Falcao, Hasselbaink, Aguero and Diego Fran. Nowadays, Alvarez is taking steps towards their ranks and becoming a representative of Atletico’s new generation.
He may not have quite reached the heights of those legends yet, but he is already proving with his performances that he is capable of taking over the honor. Fans are beginning to see him as the future star of Atletico.
Overall, despite not bringing trophies this season, the addition of Alvarez has definitely brought new energy and expectation to Atletico. His performance is not only eye-opening, but also makes everyone believe that he will bring more surprises as long as he is given time.
