Alex Baena stepped forward on Julian Alvarez’s behalf after the Argentine missed a string of chances in Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 home loss to Barcelona on Sunday.

Alvarez assisted the 10th-minute opener for Giuliano Simeone, then saw several promising openings go begging before the break. Fermin Lopez punished the misses at the other end, equalizing just before halftime and sealing the comeback in the 66th minute after a Lamine Yamal through-ball.

Speaking to Goal, Baena insisted the forward had done nothing wrong.

“Julián played a brilliant match, I hope he gets the chances he had on Sunday in every game.”

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The midfielder argued the difference between the sides was not Alvarez’s finishing but collective conversion, telling Goal that Atletico had caused Barcelona plenty of damage but had failed to be decisive in front of goal while the visitors took the openings that came their way.

Simeone backs the striker too

Diego Simeone had already taken the same line at the full-time press conference. The Atletico head coach called for patience rather than criticism, telling reporters via Goal that Alvarez had played well beyond the misses.

“Julian had a good game. As well as the chances he had, he was also involved in several other attacking moves.”

The public backing from both midfielder and coach matters because of what happened in the summer. Alvarez pushed for a move to Barcelona during the 2026 transfer window, telling reporters while on World Cup duty with Argentina that leaving would be beneficial. Atletico kept him in Madrid, and the striker later apologized to supporters, calling his own words and their timing “a mistake.”

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Barcelona pull three points clear

Fermin Lopez’s double sent Barcelona back to the top of La Liga with a three-point cushion over Real Madrid. ESPN’s match report noted Atletico created the better chances in a lively first half before fading after the break.

Atletico sit third on 28 points, five adrift of Barcelona. Diego Simeone’s side travel to Getafe on 22 November, their first fixture after the international break, with Alvarez still looking for his next goal in Atletico colors.

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