In the sixth round of La Liga, Atlético Madrid secured their second victory of the season with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Rayo Vallecano, thanks to a brilliant hat-trick performance from Álvarez.
Álvarez’s Hat-Trick Heroics
In the 11th minute, Antoine Griezmann showcased his sharp form. Picking up the ball on the right side of midfield, he dribbled past several defenders and broke into the penalty area. Surrounded by three opponents, he still managed to get a shot off, but the goalkeeper denied it.
Just four minutes later, Atlético broke the deadlock. Llorente delivered a cross from the right, and Álvarez connected at the far post with a powerful volley, giving the home side a 1-0 lead.
However, in first-half stoppage time, Rayo levelled the score through Chavarría, who unleashed a stunning long-range strike that flew straight into the top corner. The teams went into the break tied at 1-1.
García Puts Rayo Ahead, Álvarez Strikes Back Twice
In the 77th minute, García latched onto a through ball, broke past the defence, rounded the goalkeeper, and calmly slotted into the empty net, putting the visitors 2-1 ahead.
Just when Atlético fans were starting to worry, Álvarez stepped up again. Three minutes later, Simeone Jr.’s header was parried, but Álvarez reacted quickly, smashing in the rebound for his second goal of the night to make it 2-2.
In the 88th minute, Álvarez produced a moment of magic, firing a thunderous strike from the edge of the box to complete his hat-trick and seal a dramatic 3-2 victory for Atlético Madrid.
Notably, Álvarez became the first Argentine player to score a hat-trick in La Liga since Lionel Messi in 2020.
Real Sociedad Earn First Win of the Season, Mallorca Struggles Continue
Elsewhere in La Liga, Real Sociedad hosted Mallorca and claimed their first league win of the season with a 1-0 triumph, thanks to Oyarzabal’s decisive strike in the 49th minute.
Mallorca, however, remains in poor form, having failed to secure a win in their first six matches, with only two draws and four defeats to show for their efforts, leaving them at the bottom of the table.
Meanwhile, Getafe and Alavés battled it out for 90 minutes but ultimately shared the points in a 1-1 draw.
Looking Ahead: Madrid Derby on the Horizon
This hard-fought victory has given Atlético Madrid a morale boost ahead of their next challenge, the first Madrid Derby of the season.
They will host arch-rivals Real Madrid, who have maintained a perfect record in all competitions so far this season. Whether Atlético can rise to the occasion and stop their rivals’ winning streak remains to be seen.
