In a tense and thrilling encounter on Thursday, Atlético Madrid secured a vital 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo in the Spanish league, thanks to a last-gasp winner from their high-profile offseason signing, Julián Álvarez. The 24-year-old Argentine forward managed to find the back of the net in the 90th minute, poking home a meticulously placed cross from Antoine Griezmann to give Diego Simeone’s side all three points and crucially maintain their momentum ahead of a critical derby against Real Madrid.
Reflecting on the hard-fought match, Álvarez encapsulated the team’s pragmatic philosophy saying, “What matters are the three points. If it’s 1-0 or 5-0, what is important is to get the three points. We knew it was going to be a difficult match against Celta here.” Álvarez, who joined Atlético from Manchester City, demonstrated why the club spent big to secure his talents, marking his second goal since his arrival.
Despite the win, Atlético still trails behind second-place Real Madrid, remaining two points adrift as they approach Sunday’s high-stakes clash at the Metropolitano Stadium. The pressure is on both teams to keep pace with runaway leaders Barcelona, who have set a blistering pace with seven consecutive wins to start their league campaign.
The match against Celta Vigo proved challenging for Atlético, who struggled to create clear scoring opportunities for much of the game. It wasn’t until the dying minutes that Griezmann managed to curl a left-footed delivery into the box, where Álvarez was perfectly positioned to capitalize, threading between defenders to score. On the other end, Celta had numerous chances to break the deadlock but were thwarted time and again by the formidable Jan Oblak, whose stellar performance between the posts was yet another reminder of why he is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
This victory came on the back of a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano for Atlético, though it was preceded by three consecutive wins across all competitions.
. Diego Simeone’s squad will now turn their attention to an intense run of fixtures, beginning with the derby against Real Madrid, followed by a pivotal Champions League encounter against Benfica on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in other La Liga action, Villarreal continued their impressive form with a stirring 2-1 comeback victory over newly-promoted Espanyol. Ayoze Pérez was the hero for Villarreal, netting twice to secure the win and bring his tally to six goals in seven matches, just one short of Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, the league’s leading scorer. Villarreal’s only blemish so far has been a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Barcelona, but the team has otherwise looked strong and competitive.
However, the match was not without controversy, as local media reported that the referee was struck by an object thrown from the stands as he exited the field after the final whistle. Such incidents continue to be a blight on the game, drawing attention away from the on-pitch action.
Elsewhere, it was another disappointing outing for Las Palmas, who remain winless following a 1-1 draw with Real Betis. Despite taking an early lead through Alberto Moleiro in the 9th minute, Las Palmas couldn’t hold on, conceding an equalizer to Giovani Lo Celso in first-half stoppage time. The result extends Las Palmas’s lengthy winless run to 21 league matches, dating back to last season when they narrowly avoided relegation. The team remains firmly anchored to the bottom of the table, with Getafe being the only other team yet to claim a victory this season.
As Atlético Madrid gears up for their eagerly anticipated derby against Real Madrid, the recent victory over Celta Vigo—aided by the heroics of Julián Álvarez and the unrelenting spirit of Diego Simeone’s squad—has set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying encounter. With both teams in the chase for league leaders Barcelona, the outcome of the derby could have significant ramifications on the title race this season.
