Atletico Madrid proceed to stutter over the ending line within the 2024/25 La Liga season after a 0-0 draw at Alaves.
A draw on the highway within the Basque Nation means Diego Simeone’s aspect have now gained simply one in every of their final three league outings.
They want one other victory of their closing 4 video games to mathematically affirm a UEFA Champions League qualification spot and plan forward.
Simeone’s costs ought to maintain off Athletic Membership to clinch third spot however they however they’ve now gained simply one in every of their final six away La Liga matches.
Nevertheless, issues may have worse for Simeone within the scorching warmth of Vitoria, as Julian Alvarez was despatched off simply earlier than half time.
The Argentina worldwide was proven a straight purple card by match referee Juan Martínez Munuera following a late problem on Facundo Garces.
The choice was rapidly downgraded following a VAR evaluation, with Alvarez handed only a yellow card, on a day of frustration for Simeone.
Alvarez is having fun with an outstanding first season in Madrid, because the membership’s main objective scorer in La Liga and in all competitions, with 15 and 12 scored respectively.
Nevertheless, the 27-goal striker will now miss the incoming dwelling conflict with Actual Sociedad on Might 10 regardless of his dismissal being overturned.
A fifth yellow card of the season incurs an automated one-match La Liga ban, and the 25-year-old will sit out towards La Actual, with Alexander Sorloth set to interchange him in Simeone’s assault.
Alvarez has already set a brand new private benchmark, with 2024/25 his best-ever membership season for objectives scored.
He scored 24 objectives within the 2021 marketing campaign at River Plate, and the 20 league objective mark from that marketing campaign remains to be inside his sights within the closing video games of 2024/25.
His final three video games of the season embrace journeys to Osasuna and Girona both aspect of a closing dwelling look of 2024/25 towards Actual Betis on Might 18.