Alejandro Grimaldo's first official match in his homeland was also the beginning of a new stage for the Atlético de Madrid full-back. The Valencian opened the scoring against Levante at the Orriols stadium, making it clear that his arrival at the red and white club is not a simple return home, but an opportunity to demonstrate his quality in the League.
Grimaldo, 31, began his career at Pobla de Vallbona before moving to Portugal, where he triumphed with Benfica. He later moved to Germany, where he played for Bayer Leverkusen, and eventually signed with Atlético Madrid. Throughout his career, he had never played an official match in his city of origin or against Valencian teams, so the match against Levante represented a personal and professional milestone.
The goal came in the 36th minute, after a precise pass from Baena that went past a defender and became one-on-one. Grimaldo took advantage of the opportunity and finished with precision, sending the ball into the back of the net. The shot reached a speed of 116.2 km/h and traveled 12.4 meters, rotating 3.6 times per second, making it a memorable goal. With this objective, the winger already has four goals in 13 games, a figure that exceeds that of several forwards on the team, such as Julián Álvarez, Jonathan David or Alexander Sørloth.
Although Grimaldo is not Atlético's top scorer, his offensive contribution is notable. His direct rival in the scoring table is Alex Baena, who has scored five goals. In addition, the winger has contributed two assists this season, the most recent being the one he gave to Julián Álvarez for the winning goal against Deportivo.
Grimaldo's performance in his first game in Valencia suggests that Atlético de Madrid can count on a player who, although he occupies the full-back position, provides offensive value comparable to that of a forward. With the rest of the season still to play, the club and its supporters will closely watch how his contribution evolves in the upcoming fixtures.