Penalty Brace by Julian Alvarez Secures Atletico Madrid’s Win Over Valladolid
Julian Alvarez played a crucial role on Monday as Atletico Madrid defeated struggling Real Valladolid 4-2 in La Liga. Alvarez scored two penalties during the match, while Coach Diego Simeone’s son, Giuliano, and Alexander Sorloth also contributed goals. This victory brought Atletico back within seven points of league leaders Barcelona and kept their title hopes alive, sitting in third place, just three points behind rivals Real Madrid. After the match, Alvarez emphasized the need to remain focused on upcoming challenges, stating, “We can’t do anything more than keep moving forward, thinking about what’s to come.”
GrĂtalo, Giuli 🗣️#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/NquJ3i6Zom
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) April 14, 2025
Despite their poor form, Valladolid provided more of a challenge than Atletico anticipated.
The visitors got off to a strong start with a penalty scored by Mamadou Sylla after Clement Lenglet handled the ball in the box. But the hosts weren’t down for long; they managed to level the score soon after with a penalty of their own. Javi Sanchez had fouled Simeone, and Alvarez stepped up to take the kick, coolly slotting it down the middle to equalize.
Atletico surged ahead soon after when Simeone struck brilliantly from the right, finishing off a well-placed ball from Pablo Barrios. They maintained dominance but allowed Valladolid back into the game after another foul by Lenglet led to a deflected free-kick that caught Jan Oblak off guard.
Atletico Madrid took the lead again when Marcos Llorente was fouled in the box, earning a penalty. Alvarez confidently stepped up to take the shot and scored, marking his 14th goal in the league and his 26th across all competitions since joining from Manchester City last summer. To secure the win for Atletico, Sorloth quickly capitalized on a saved Alvarez shot and netted another goal.
Diego Simeone is aware of the challenge ahead as his team prepares to face Las Palmas. He is cautious about their chances of catching up to the top two teams in the league. His son, Giuliano, shared his father’s perspective, emphasizing the need to keep working hard, enjoy their recent victory, and focus on the upcoming match against Las Palmas.
