Alvarez hat-trick drags Atletico past Rayo in chaotic derby
Atlético Madrid needed every ounce of Julián Alvarez’s sharp finishing to finally see off stubborn neighbours Rayo Vallecano 3-2 at the Metropolitano, a win that ends a miserable run of just one victory in six for Diego Simeone’s men. For Rayo it was heartbreak again, a fourth straight match without a win, and one that slipped through there fingers in the cruellest fashion.
The match begun with the usual derby edge, tackles flying in and plenty of noise around the stadium, but it was Atleti who struck first blood. Just quarter of an hour gone when Marcos Llorente swung over a cross from the right and Alvarez, timing his run perfectly, connected sweetly on the volley. His left boot sent the ball screaming into the corner, no chance for Augusto Batalla, and the home crowd erupted with relief as much as joy.
That should have settled the hosts down, but as has been the theme so often this season, they never quite look secure when leading. Alvarez himself wasted a glorious chance for 2-0, blasting over from six yards after fine work by Nahuel Molina. It left the door open, and right on the stroke of half-time Rayo produced a moment to silence the place. Pep Chavarría picked the ball up in space a good 30 yards out and absolutely thumped it. Jan Oblak stretched but never got close, the ball smashing into the top corner, one of those goals you just stand and admire.
Atleti trudged off with that sinking feeling, another lead gone, and things nearly got worse soon after the restart. Isi Palazón darted through and only Oblak’s big frame stopped him turning the game. Simeone shuffled the deck on 56 minutes, bringing on his son Giuliano and Nico González. Nico should have restored the lead straight away, rising to meet Conor Gallagher’s tempting cross but heading narrowly wide.
Instead the visitors grew in confidence. Iván Balliu tried his luck from distance, his effort skimming past the upright, then came the shock. Álvaro García broke clear down the left, skipped around Oblak like he wasn’t there and squeezed in from the tightest of angles. Rayo’s bench exploded, 2-1 up at the Metropolitano with half an hour to go.
But joy turned to despair almost instantly. Giuliano Simeone whipped a low ball into the danger zone, Batalla couldn’t hold it, and Alvarez reacted first, stabbing home from close range. That made it 2-2 and suddenly the Argentine smelled blood. His hat-trick goal, when it arrived, was a thing of beauty. Picking the ball up 25 yards out, he unleashed a thunderbolt with his left foot that ripped into the top corner, leaving Batalla frozen. A true match-winner’s strike.
From there Atletico hung on, nervy as ever, but this time they saw it out. Rayo pushed, García again lively, but Oblak and his defenders did just enough to keep them out. The final whistle brought relief more than celebration for the home crowd.
Three points takes Atleti up to eighth, still miles off where they want to be but maybe a turning point. Simeone will know the problems haven’t gone away – his defence looks shaky, and they can’t keep relying on moments of magic – but at least they had Alvarez to drag them through. For Iñigo Pérez and his Rayo side, they walk away with nothing despite plenty of spirit and two fine goals, and they stay stuck in 14th wondering how on earth this one got away.