Julián Álvarez returns to the Champions League with Atlético de Madrid, facing a rival that leaves him with unfinished business. The Argentine, who has shown ups and downs in his current season, is preparing for a duel that promises to revive his best form on the most demanding stage of European football.
The player, who has become a key part of Atlético's forward line, has spent the last few months recovering from an injury that left him with both physical and psychological scars. Despite having scored with the Argentine national team, his performance at the club has been irregular, and the expectation is that the match against Manchester United will allow him to demonstrate his ability to score goals and regain the confidence that characterized him in his time with Manchester City. With the red and white shirt, Julián has 17 goals and seven assists in 26 Champions League games, figures that exceed his performance in domestic competitions.
During his time at City, the forward scored eight goals and two assists in 17 games under Guardiola, including the club's Champions League title campaign. In the 2024-25 season, his production was reduced to a single assist, although he managed to score seven goals in his first edition (2023-24) and ten in the next. The Champions League statistics continue to be his strong point, with ten goals last season that allowed him to surpass Diego Costa's record of eight goals in the 2013-14 edition. Furthermore, his speed in reaching 25 goals in the competition, achieved in just 41 games, places him as the fastest Argentine to reach that threshold, surpassing Messi and Agüero.
Manchester United represents a personal challenge for Julián. During his time at City, the forward won all three Premier League games he played against the "Red Devils", but never managed to score against them and suffered a 2-1 defeat in the 2024 FA Cup final, his last game with City. These experiences fuel the motivation of the player, who seeks to close pending accounts and demonstrate his quality against a rival who has seen him at his best.
With the Champions League on the agenda, Atlético de Madrid is preparing for a match that not only has sporting implications, but also emotional ones for Julián Álvarez. The next match will be an opportunity for the forward to shine again on the stage he is most passionate about and for the club to continue its European campaign with a player who, despite the difficulties, remains a key piece in its squad.