The match between Alavés and Atlético de Madrid was marked from the beginning of the second half by the expulsion of Ángel Pérez, an Alavés player, after a harsh challenge with Julián Alvárez. At the 46th minute mark, referee Alejandro Quintero showed him a yellow card, but the final decision was made after the intervention of the VAR system.
According to the report, the VAR detected that Pérez launched himself with his studs pointing towards Alvárez's head, in an area of high risk of injury. The VAR technician, Pulido Santana, sent a request to the referee to review the play, sending him an image showing Pérez with his leg extended and his cleats facing up. Quintero, after observing the photo, concluded that the tackle constituted “serious rough play” and decided to send off the player, leaving Alavés with ten men.
The referee recorded in the minutes that the expulsion was due to “an attack on an opponent with the use of excessive force in the dispute for the ball”, which will imply a sanction for the player. With the team reduced, Alavés had to reorganize its defense and look for a containment strategy to prevent Atlético from increasing the advantage.
The incident occurred at a critical moment in the match, when the score was tied at 1-1. Pérez's expulsion forced Alavés to play with a lower number, which put at risk their ability to maintain defensive balance and create scoring opportunities. Atlético, for its part, took advantage of the numerical advantage to press and seek the decisive goal.
In the coming days, Alavés will have to deal with the absence of Pérez, who will likely face a suspension of at least one match. The club will have to adjust its squad and tactics to compensate for the loss of a key player, while Atlético Madrid will maintain its focus on consolidating the lead and securing victory.