Álvarez at the double as Atletico overcome bottom club Valladolid 4-2

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Alexander Sørloth seals 4-2 win for Atlético

Alexander Sørloth's clinical finish extends Atlético's advantage late in the match.

Updated: Apr 14, 2025, 09:48 pm

Atlético Madrid's Julián Álvarez netted two penalties as they rallied to beat bottom side Real Valladolid 4-2 at a rainy Metropolitano on Monday to stay in the title hunt.

Third-placed Atlético have 63 points, three behind Real Madrid and seven adrift of Barcelona. Valladolid are on 16 points, 14 points off the safety zone with seven games left.

"These are three important points," Atlético striker Álvarez told DAZN. "We have to keep going. Think about [Saturday's game at] Las Palmas, rest and focus. That's all.

"I had a few other chances for a hat-trick but the important thing is that we were able to win. At some point it got complicated, but we pulled it off."

Valladolid grabbed a surprise lead after 21 minutes when Mamadou Sylla calmly converted a penalty awarded following a VAR review for a handball by Clément Lenglet.

The advantage was short-lived as Álvarez equalised from the spot after another VAR intervention four minutes later following a foul by Javi Sánchez on Giuliano Simeone, who turned scorer himself to put Atlético ahead in the 27th minute.

But the visitors stunned Atlético once again by levelling in the 56th as Sanchez's free kick took a deflection off Conor Gallagher in the wall, wrong-footing goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Atlético regained the lead in the 71st minute with another well taken Álvarez penalty after Henrique fouled Marcos Llorente, before substitute Alexander Sorloth sealed the win with a close-range finish on the rebound.

"We competed well. We knew we were going to suffer. It's a pity they came back," Valladolid's Sanchez said. "We have to keep going and continue in this vein. Leave the crest where it deserves to be. We have to take it one game at a time. Fight until the end."