They say that at great players They are measured on the big stages. Julián has proven to be after overcoming a scoring and confidence slump during the current season. A drop as pronounced as it was unexpected that is completely forgotten. You just need to review his performance in the Champions League qualifiers (and in the Cup qualifiers) to be able to affirm that the Spider has returned. And at a very high level.
Their match against Arsenal was the last great example. Only an ankle injury, which we will return to later, stopped his display of play, bite and leadership. Also brave, because just 10 days after missing a decisive maximum penalty in the Cup final he did not hesitate to take the ball and head to the 11 meters. He made the shot despite having a great goalkeeper like Raya in front of himunable to move from the center and come close to stopping the shot.
It was goal number 10 in this Champions League. A number as round as it is high after just 14 games in which he has also added four assists. There, he averages a goal or assist per game, with the playoffs being his main hunting ground: six goals and two assists in just seven decisive matches. Barely two games have been left without the peck of a footballer who already knows what it means to raise his ear.
Goal by Julián Alvarez (l.) (1-1) in Atlético de Madrid 1-1 Arsenal
If he achieves this with Atlético, it would be the second of his career.. It would also serve to debut his record at the Metropolitano and, incidentally, to bury any doubts about his continuity. He would be sure to play in the next Club World Cup and fight for other titles such as the European Super Cup. Incentives as strong as his name making a significant jump in the individual trophies that he was denied even when he won the World Cup in Qatar.
a sore ankle
But to achieve all those goals Julián has to be decisive in a stadium where he has played several times. With Manchester City, but also with Atletico that lost 4-0 in the group stage. No one, not even Julián himself, imagines a similar scenario even with his battered ankle.
Because that’s how it ended in the first leg but no one doubts that he will play. If necessary, which remains to be seen, it could be infiltrated If the discomfort that you are working to reduce in recent days persists. Julián is going to be there no matter what because this version is 10. Champions. The best Spider and the one who with his pecks wants to take his team to the final in Budapest.
