OVIEDO, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 28: Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid celebrates with a teammate after netting their team’s opening goal during the LaLiga EA Sports fixture between Real Oviedo and Atletico de Madrid at Carlos Tartiere on February 28, 2026, in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Bruno Penas/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) Getty Images
An Atlético de Madrid team with several changes narrowly defeated a resilient Real Oviedo at Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere on Saturday evening, thanks to Julián Alvarez’s last-minute goal in the 94th minute, clinching a 1-0 victory for the away side — who climbed to joint-third in LaLiga and achieved their fourth away win of the season. Let’s delve into the details of the match.
The play that culminated in Alvarez’s goal started with a turnover and a throw-in for Oviedo.
Ultimately, that’s how it ought to have turned out.
On the right flank, Álex Baena delivers a fierce cross into the box that narrowly evades Antoine Griezmann. However, left-back Julio Díaz swiftly retrieves it, executing a precise touch to maintain possession as Alvarez positions himself as a passing option just outside the penalty area.
After making 53 appearances for Atlético Madrileño since 2024, the 21-year-old Díaz faced his first challenge in Primera against a Real Oviedo team battling to remain in the league. Matched up against the tricky Haissem Hassan, Díaz drew two fouls from the talented winger and successfully won six out of 12 ground duels. Despite his relatively small height of 5’7”, which may have worked to his advantage, Díaz’s speed and nimbleness provided a contrast to the taller 6’2” Matteo Ruggeri. Although he experienced 14 turnovers, only four players had more touches than Díaz, who recorded 72; he successfully completed 40 of his 47 passes (19 out of 23 in the Oviedo half) and demonstrated confidence as a ball-carrier. It was an encouraging debut.
Alvarez breaks away from the penalty area as Díaz locates him, then continues his run into the box. This prompts Oviedo midfielder Kwasi Sibo, whom Alvarez skillfully holds off with effective shielding and body control. Alvarez advances the ball across the penalty arc; while Baena is requesting the ball in a confined area, Araña spots the unmarked Nahuel Molina for a chance to deliver a first-time cross.
Molina’s cross, seemingly aimed at Griezmann, falls short and deflects off Baena’s right foot. While Molina’s action wasn’t deliberate, a closer look reveals that Baena’s instinctive choice to flick the ball with the back of his boot serves as a cut-back for Alvarez. This “flick” completely removes Santiago Colombatto — the midfielder following Baena — from the equation, leaving the ball in a prime position for Alvarez.
With Alexander Sørloth off the field (substituted after an hour) and the situation becoming precarious, Alvarez makes a move towards the box. He positions himself close to the penalty spot and seizes the loose ball, capturing Sibo’s focus once again. This time, Alvarez shifts to his left foot and strikes Atleti’s initial shot on target past goalkeeper Aarón Escandell.
Alvarez’s eighth goal represented his first in LaLiga in 119 days — since his penalty initiated the scoring in a 3-0 victory against Sevilla on November 1. This marks only the second league match this season where Alvarez has netted in open play, and it is also the first time he has scored in a league game away from home since the opening matchday in August.
It’s a significant moment for Alvarez, whose challenges have sparked considerable curiosity and speculation following his impressive tally of 29 goals during his inaugural season at Atlético. This achievement also highlighted an otherwise lackluster team performance against Oviedo, the last-placed team in LaLiga.
Atlético struggled in the xG department, finishing at 1.10 to 0.97, and relied on Jan Oblak to make six crucial saves against the league’s last-placed team. In Asturias, Atleti managed to win only 41 percent of their aerial duels and 45 percent of their ground duels; for a significant portion of the match, the Colchoneros found it difficult to penetrate defenses or stretch the play, even after Giuliano Simeone came on in the 61st minute. For 93 minutes and 10 seconds, Escandell remained unchallenged by a shot on target.
One perspective suggests that Barcelona will be eagerly anticipating the chance to overturn a 0-4 deficit from the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Tuesday night. However, considering Simeone’s Atlético, one could also contend that the unocerismo trait has resurfaced at a pivotal moment. This marks only Atleti’s fourth 1-0 victory in LaLiga this season — for context, during the 2017/18 campaign, they achieved that scoreline 11 times — and this match featured the longest wait for the Rojiblancos to find the net. When Alvarez’s shot nestled into the net at 93:11, it became Atleti’s latest goal in LaLiga since Alexander Sørloth’s 96th-minute winner against Barcelona in December 2024.
Tuesday marks a pivotal moment in Atleti’s season thus far. Barcelona, having comfortably defeated Villarreal 4-1 earlier on Saturday, have been discussing the remontada since the conclusion of the first leg of the semifinal. The blaugrana are expected to dominate the second leg. They will approach the match with high intensity and are likely to net several goals.
After delivering a lackluster performance against Oviedo and then managing to hold off Barça to secure a spot in the Copa del Rey final for the first time in 13 years, the narrative practically writes itself.