In the match against Villarreal, Argentine striker Alvarez, who recently joined Atletico Madrid, made his La Liga debut. Prior to the match, he had only participated in four training sessions with Atletico. The “Little Spider” came on as a substitute in the final stages of the game, playing a total of 17 minutes. He was unable to register a goal or assist, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Alvarez replaced Griezmann in the 33rd minute of the second half, when the game was paused due to the heat, allowing players to rehydrate. In his brief appearance, Alvarez had two touches, both passes to teammate De Paul, and committed two fouls in the defensive end. Towards the end of the game, he also successfully blocked a pass attempt by an opposing player. It can be said that in his debut, Alvarez’s contribution in the defense was greater than in the attack.
Alvarez played as a center forward in a 3-4-3 formation. Simeone made multiple changes in the second half, including bringing on Giménez for Witsel, Correa for Solo, Molina for Mandava, De Paul for Koke, and Alvarez for Griezmann.
Argentina’s Ole newspaper believes that in his debut, Alvarez showcased his competitiveness, which aligns with coach Simeone’s expectations. In the post-match press conference, Simeone spoke about the new signing’s performance: “Everyone played their part according to our expectations. Lemar is a serious and passionate defender… Solo was very close to scoring… Alvarez still needs to adapt to the system, but we hope to further leverage his strengths.”
Marcos Llorente also praised the integration of the new arrivals after the game: “The new players are adapting well to the team. Alvarez is familiar with his national teammates and can speak Spanish fluently… They are all excellent players. Even though they haven’t fully integrated yet, they don’t need much time to adapt.”
Atletico Madrid’s next match is against Girona at home on Sunday, and whether Alvarez will be granted a starting opportunity has become a point of focus for fans.
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