Atletico Madrid narrowly escaped with a 1-0 victory against Celta Vigo in a LaLiga clash on Thursday, thanks to a 90th-minute goal from Julian Alvarez.
In a match where Diego Simeone’s side struggled to create chances and failed to register a single shot on target in the first half, Alvarez’s late intervention spared Atletico from dropping crucial points.
Celta Vigo dominated large parts of the game, with Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias both forcing impressive saves from Atletico’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Despite their poor performance, Atletico’s defense held strong, and Alvarez’s late winner propelled them to third place in LaLiga ahead of a highly anticipated derby against Real Madrid on Sunday.
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Atletico Madrid’s performance against Celta Vigo was far from their best. From the start, it was clear that Diego Simeone’s side lacked the usual spark that has made them one of the top teams in LaLiga.
The decision to start Giuliano Simeone, the manager’s son, over star summer signing Julian Alvarez raised eyebrows, and Atletico struggled to create meaningful chances in the first half.
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In fact, the Madrid-based club failed to register a single shot in the opening 45 minutes, leaving fans frustrated and wondering if they could even salvage a point.
Celta Vigo, on the other hand, played with confidence, pushing forward and testing Atletico’s defense.
Their star forward, Iago Aspas, came close to breaking the deadlock just before halftime, only to be denied by an incredible save from Jan Oblak.
If it weren’t for Jan Oblak’s outstanding performance, Atletico Madrid might have left Balaídos with nothing.
The Slovenian goalkeeper, widely regarded as one of the best in the world, was at his best on Thursday night.
Oblak’s first major intervention came just before halftime when he made a stunning save to deny Iago Aspas from close range.
The pressure from Celta Vigo continued in the second half, with Borja Iglesias nearly putting the home side ahead with a powerful header.
Once again, Oblak was there to save the day, keeping the score level and giving Atletico a fighting chance to find a winner.
It was clear that Atletico were struggling to cope with Celta’s intensity, and their attack was failing to create any meaningful opportunities.
However, despite their shortcomings, Oblak’s heroics kept them in the game, setting the stage for a late twist.
With Atletico Madrid failing to make an impact in front of goal, Simeone made the crucial decision to bring on Julian Alvarez late in the second half.
Alvarez, who had been left on the bench despite being one of Atletico’s most exciting summer signings, immediately added a new dimension to Atletico’s attack.
As the game entered the final moments, it looked as though Atletico would have to settle for a point, which would have flattered their performance.
However, in the 90th minute, Antoine Griezmann found space on the wing and delivered a deep cross to the back post. Alvarez, showing the sharp instincts that made him a star at Manchester City, pounced on the cross and poked it home to give Atletico a dramatic 1-0 win.
It was a moment of quality that had been missing from Atletico’s play all night, and Alvarez’s goal proved to be the difference in a match that could have easily ended in disappointment for the visitors.
Celta Vigo will feel hard done by, as they were undoubtedly the better team for much of the match. Their pressing game and attacking play caused Atletico plenty of problems, and they created the best chances of the night.
Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias were both unlucky not to score, and the performance of Jan Oblak was the only thing standing between Celta and three points.
Celta manager Rafa Benitez will take some positives from the match, as his team showed they can compete with LaLiga’s top clubs. However, the failure to convert their chances will sting, especially given Atletico’s lackluster display.
