Diego Simeone believes Julian Alvarez can bring a "different dimension" to Atletico Madrid's attacking play, with the forward potentially in line to make his first league start of the season against Alaves.
Alvarez can give Atleti 'different dimension' with forward primed for first start
Julian Alvarez has not started a game in LaLiga this season, but Diego Simeone is counting on him ahead of Saturday's trip to Alaves.
Atleti emerge from the international break second in the table with 16 points from seven games, five adrift of early pacesetters Barcelona, who have a perfect record.
Simeone's side earned a 2-1 derby win over Real Madrid prior to the hiatus, and their early results have come despite Alvarez not starting a league game so far this term.
Having publicly pushed for a move to Barca in the summer transfer window, Alvarez has been restricted to three substitute appearances thus far, and he was booed by his own supporters following a 2-2 draw with Villarreal in August.
But after appearing in all three of Argentina's games during the international break – including Lionel Messi's farewell match against Benin – Alvarez could be thrown in from the start when Atleti visit the Estadio de Mendizorroza on Saturday.
"I see him in good shape, enthusiastic, and he has the desire to give everything he has, as he always does," Simeone said of Alvarez.
"When he is in good shape, he gives us a different dimension in attack."
Atleti's attacking options could be further boosted by Alexander Sorloth and Pablo Barrios returning, with the former having missed the start of the season with a muscle issue and the latter suffering a lower leg issue in their opening Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
"They are working very well, and they will take part in the match. We hope they give their best, as each of them gives us different options in play," Simeone said of that duo.
Simeone was also asked for his reaction to Messi's final international appearance, but he could not choose between the 39-year-old and Diego Maradona – two of his compatriots.
"I will not get into the game of choosing one of them. I had the chance to play with Maradona, but I did not have the chance to play with Messi," Simeone said.
"We Argentines are grateful that we lived through the era of the best players in the history of football. Messi surpassed every possible limit and dealt with everything with respect.
"As an Argentine, I thank him for everything he has given us, but the most important thing is what he taught us about fighting. He taught us that when things go wrong, we must keep moving forward."
Alaves have also started the season positively, sitting sixth in the table with 11 points from their opening seven games.
They are winless in their last three matches, however, drawing 0-0 with Athletic Club following back-to-back defeats to Racing Santander and Valencia.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alaves – Lucas Boye
Boye has committed more fouls than any other player in LaLiga this season without receiving a single yellow card (15), but the striker's combative style could be a major strength for Alaves against tough opponents.
Atletico Madrid – Giuliano Simeone
Giuliano Simeone has been involved in four goals in his last six LaLiga games (two goals and two assists), as many as he managed in his previous 21 appearances in the competition (two goals and two assists).
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLETICO MADRID WIN
Alaves have not won any of their last four LaLiga games against Atletico (D2 L2), though they earned points from three of the teams' last five meetings (W1 D2 L2), after losing nine of the previous 11 (W1 D1).
Indeed, Simeone's side have not won on their last four league visits to Alaves (D2 L2), and they could now equal their longest winless away run against them in the competition, after failing to win on their first five trips between 1954 and 2002 (D1 L4).
Overall, Atleti have won just one of their last seven away games against Basque teams in LaLiga (D4 L2), though that was a 3-0 victory against Real Sociedad in their last such match.
Alaves have not won any of their last three LaLiga games (D1 L2), failing to score in the last two of those, and they have not gone three or more consecutive games without scoring in the top flight since April 2024 (L3).
Atleti have scored 16 goals in their first seven games this season, their third-highest tally at this stage in the last 13 campaigns, after netting 18 in 2023-24 and 17 in 2020-21.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Alaves – 24.6%
Atletico Madrid – 50%
Draw – 25.4%
