Romero late header seals 2-1 win for Atletico at Alaves after Perez red card

Atletico edge Alaves in late thriller

Atletico Madrid left it late but ultimately Cristian Romero proved the matchwinner in a 2-1 LaLiga victory over Alaves at Estadio de Mendizorroza on Saturday.

Cristian Romero’s late header earned Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win over 10-player Alaves. Alejandro Grimaldo fired Diego Simeone’s side ahead but Alaves levelled shortly before the break thanks to Lucas Boye’s penalty. However, the hosts were up against it when Angel Perez saw red just after the hour, and Romero scored the winner thanks to a sublime cross from Alex Baena.

First-half chances and penalty

Jonathan David was unlucky to see a 14th-minute effort headed for the right corner well saved by Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera. Ademola Lookman also went close twice before Atleti took the lead just after the half hour, with Grimaldo drilling into the bottom-right corner after being slipped in by David.

Alaves were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Robin Le Normand was judged to have hauled down Toni Martinez in the penalty area, and Boye dispatched his spot-kick past Jan Oblak.

Red card turns the game

Alaves were facing an uphill task just after the hour when Perez was sent off for an ugly lunge on Julian Alvarez, with the referee upgrading from a yellow card after a VAR intervention. Alvarez then saw a free-kick clip the left-hand post, but Atleti did find the winner with three minutes to go, Baena’s stupendous outside-of-the-boot cross headed home at the back post by former Tottenham man Romero.

Numbers and next up

It may have taken longer than they would have liked, but Atleti were good value for the three points. Simeone’s side had 22 shots to Alaves eight, with seven of those on target to the hosts’ three. Indeed, Alaves’ open-play xG registered at just 0.29, with their first-half penalty lifting that to 1.09, compared to Atleti’s 2.12.

David has been a big contributor for Atleti, who climb to second with this victory, with the Canadian scoring three and assisting two in his past four LaLiga outings. Veteran Koke showed his enduring talent, attempting 122 passes for Atleti in this game, the most of any player in LaLiga this season.

Atleti now turn their attentions to Tuesday’s Champions League contest at home to Manchester United.