The return of Julián Álvarez to Atlético de Madrid's starting eleven after the 2‑0 victory over Manchester United marked an important step towards normality for the team under the direction of Diego Pablo Simeone. The Argentine striker, who had been absent after his controversial attempt to sign for FC Barcelona, once again demonstrated his value in the Champions League, the competition where the stars usually shine the brightest.
Simeone has stated that the club's fans expect to see the best from Julián, and that the player is "closer" to meeting those expectations. The coach explained that the passion of the fans is directly related to the performance of his players and that, after the performance against Alavés, Julián showed a good second half and managed to score against United. “We need Julián and he is giving it to us,” said the coach in the press conference after the match.
The Argentine striker, who has scored 17 goals and provided seven assists in 26 Champions League games, continues to be a key element in Atlético's forward line. His stay at the club has surpassed the records of his time under Pep Guardiola, where he scored eight goals and two assists in 17 games. In the Champions League, Julián holds the historical record for precocity with 25 goals in only 41 games, which makes him one of the most prolific scorers in the competition.
Despite his performance, Julián still faces pressure from the fans, who sometimes show their discontent when the player fails to score. During the match against Manchester United, the fans showed respect and indifference when the ball rolled to Lammens' right post after a shot by Julián. When the striker was replaced in the 71st minute by Hjulmand, the crowd expressed their displeasure at the player's attitude over the summer, although the atmosphere remained generally respectful.
Atlético de Madrid continues working on Julián's recovery and consolidating its position in the Champions League. With the team already in the group stage, the next challenge will be to maintain the pace and ensure continuity of the scorers. The club and its fans hope that the Argentine forward will continue contributing goals and assists in the next matches, consolidating himself as a fundamental piece of the attack under the direction of Simeone.