Almería midfielder Álex Baena starred in the match between Atlético de Madrid and Levante with a performance that almost became a hat-trick of assists. At the City of Valencia stadium, Baena delivered three passes that culminated in goals, although only one was counted due to offside situations and an intervention by the Levantinista defender.
Baena's first pass came shortly after the first quarter of an hour, when the player positioned himself in the crescent of the area. With a shot that seemed destined for the net, instead of shooting, he sent a precise pass to Morten Hjulmand, who finished it to Ryan. The goal, although spectacular, did not count towards the score because the referee declared it offside. The second opportunity came when Atlético was 0‑1. Baena played a pass to Grimaldo, but defender Olasagasti intercepted the ball and, after a failed clearance, the ball ended up in the boots of the Valencian striker, who managed to open the scoring. However, the play was canceled due to the intervention of the Levante defender.
Baena's third and final pass came after an impressive ball release from the Atlético defence. The ball reached the boots of Baena, who made a pass between the lines that left Giuliano with the opportunity to score. Giuliano took advantage of the rope dribble and scored Atlético's second goal, putting the score at 0‑2. This goal did count towards the final score, and was the only one that was recorded as an official assist for Baena.
With this performance, Baena consolidates himself as Atlético de Madrid's top scorer, with five goals this season, and adds his fourth assist in the City of Valencia. His numbers improve significantly compared to the previous campaign, in which he scored two goals and gave three assists. Baena's performance shows that he continues to maintain a high level of play, and his contribution in the match against Levante reinforces his position as a key player in the team.