Julian Alvarez delivered a masterclass performance with a stunning hat-trick as Atletico Madrid fought back from behind to defeat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in a pulsating La Liga encounter at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Argentine striker’s heroics salvaged three crucial points for Diego Simeone’s struggling side, who had fallen behind with just 12 minutes remaining before Alvarez’s dramatic late intervention turned the match on its head.
The victory marks only Atletico’s second triumph in six league fixtures this season, highlighting the difficult start to the campaign for the Rojiblancos, who currently sit ninth in the table – nine points adrift of leaders Real Madrid ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated derby clash.
“We needed to get three points to get confidence from winning, we’ve been playing well but because of small details we weren’t getting good results,” Alvarez told Movistar after the match. “We have to keep working and improve some things to get on a winning run.”
The 25-year-old former Manchester City forward, who joined Atletico in 2024, opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a perfectly executed volley from Marcos Llorente’s floating cross, giving the home supporters early hope of a comfortable evening.
However, Rayo Vallecano had other plans. The visitors struck back in spectacular fashion during first-half stoppage time when Pep Chavarria unleashed a thunderous effort from distance that flew into the top corner, leaving Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak with no chance.
The drama intensified in the second half when substitute Alvaro Garcia put Rayo ahead in the 78th minute, rounding Oblak before slotting home from a tight angle to silence the Metropolitano crowd.
Atletico’s response was immediate and furious. The hosts threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, and their persistence paid off when Alvarez pounced on a rebound after Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla had denied Giuliano Simeone – the coach’s son.
With Rayo seemingly shell-shocked, Giuliano Simeone struck the crossbar as Atletico sensed blood, before Alvarez completed his hat-trick with a sublime finish from the edge of the box in the 88th minute.
The performance was particularly satisfying for Alvarez, who had endured frustration in recent weeks, including a missed penalty in Atletico’s disappointing draw at Mallorca last weekend and visible displeasure at being substituted during that match.
His display against Rayo demonstrated exactly why Simeone should trust his Argentine talisman to deliver when the pressure mounts. The striker’s combination of clinical finishing and never-say-die attitude embodied everything Atletico needed as they seek to climb the La Liga standings.
The result provides much-needed momentum for Simeone’s side ahead of their crucial derby encounter with Real Madrid, where they will need to produce similar resilience and quality if they hope to close the gap on their city rivals.
For Rayo Vallecano, the defeat will sting particularly after Chavarria’s moment of magic and Garcia’s well-taken goal had put them in control. However, they can take heart from a performance that pushed one of Spain’s traditional powerhouses to the limit.
The match showcased the unpredictable nature of La Liga, where any team can trouble the established order on their day.
