Atlético de Madrid and Manchester United faced off at the Metropolitano in a Champions League clash that once again put JuliánAlvarez in the spotlight. The Argentine, who has not scored since April 29 against Arsenal, was included in the starting eleven by DiegoSimeone and showed himself to be the team's central forward, although his playing style remains that of a number nine who drops down to help build the attack and gets closer to the area when necessary.
During the match, Alvarez was very active on the field, but his lack of precision with the ball cost him some opportunities. The Metropolitano, which has been a difficult terrain for the player, gave him the opportunity to demonstrate his commitment, although without concrete results. When his name was announced over the public address system, the fans gave him a timid applause, and over the course of the match he managed to win more applause for some of his actions. In the end, when he was substituted, the sound of the whistle echoed through the stadium, marking the end of his participation in the match.
In the second half, with the score at 1‑0 in favor of Manchester United, Alvarez had a great scoring opportunity. After a masterful pass from PabloBarrios, the Argentine striker fired a volley with his left foot that crashed against the post. This incident reminded the fans of the moment on the last day in Vitoria, when the player attempted a direct free kick that also ended in the same place. The repetition of these moments has led commentators and fans to describe Alvarez as “more wood”, that is, with more material for the future but still without scoring his goals.
JuliánAlvarez's performance in the match was not enough to change the dynamics of the match, and Atlético de Madrid lost the opportunity to advance in the group stage. Coach Simeone has indicated that the player needs to improve his shooting accuracy and his ability to convert the chances he creates. Despite this, the club and the player continue to work on improving their offensive skills, with the hope that in the next matches the Argentine can contribute more goals and help the team advance in the competition.