Julián Álvarez gives Atlético de Madrid the victory over Celta de Vigo in the 90th minute

A thrilling 90th-minute goal by Julián Álvarez clinched a crucial victory for Atlético Madrid over Celta de Vigo in the seventh round of La Liga, marking a significant moment in Atlético's season as they returned to third place in the standings.

Álvarez, the Argentine forward who joined Atlético Madrid during the summer transfer window from Manchester City for a hefty €80 million, showed his class once again by finishing with precision after receiving a well-placed pass from French international Antoine Griezmann. His clinical finish, slotted neatly into the bottom corner of the net near the left post, left Celta’s goalkeeper with little chance.

For Celta de Vigo, the result was a bitter pill to swallow. Throughout much of the game, the Galician side had the upper hand, controlling large portions of play and creating several promising opportunities. They appeared to be heading towards a well-deserved draw or perhaps even a win, only to be undone by Álvarez's late heroics. Despite dominating phases of the match and coming closest to scoring on multiple occasions, Celta was unable to convert their chances into goals and paid the price for their inefficiency in front of goal. Their inability to find the back of the net and the heartbreaking last-minute concession left the players and fans frustrated, feeling that they had been unfairly penalized by the final result.

In contrast, Atlético Madrid’s resilience shone through, as they took advantage of their late chance to secure all three points. The victory was particularly important in light of the competitive nature of this season’s La Liga, where every point counts in the race for European qualification. With this win, Atlético Madrid leapfrogged back into third place, reaffirming their status as a top contender for Champions League football next season. The team’s defensive structure and ability to seize crucial moments continue to be their hallmark under coach Diego Simeone, and the addition of Álvarez has added a new dynamic to their attack, as evidenced by his match-winning contribution.

Elsewhere in La Liga, Villarreal also enjoyed a successful evening as they traveled to Catalonia and secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Espanyol. Villarreal had initially fallen behind after a goal from Espanyol’s Jofre, who found the net in stoppage time at the end of the first half (45+1’). However, Villarreal responded quickly, leveling the score just before halftime, with Ayoze Pérez scoring the equalizer in the 45+6 minute. Pérez would go on to be the hero for Villarreal, adding a second goal in the 63rd minute to complete the comeback. His two-goal performance propelled Villarreal into third place temporarily, before Atlético Madrid’s later result dropped them to fourth. The victory was a statement of intent from Villarreal, showcasing their determination to remain in the upper echelons of the league standings.

In another fixture that closed out the seventh round of matches, Las Palmas played out a 1-1 draw with Real Betis. Las Palmas took an early lead through Alberto Moleiro in the ninth minute, but Betis, determined not to leave empty-handed, equalized just before halftime with a goal in stoppage time from Willian José (45+3’). The second half saw both teams push for a winner, but neither could break the deadlock, and the game ended with the points shared. Despite the draw, Betis will have been pleased with their resilience to fight back, while Las Palmas will rue their inability to capitalize on their early advantage.

A notable storyline from the Las Palmas vs. Betis match was the involvement of several Portuguese players. Rui Silva, the Portuguese international goalkeeper, started in goal for Real Betis and played a pivotal role in keeping his team in the game with several crucial saves. Meanwhile, young Portuguese talents Dário Essugo and Fábio Silva both featured prominently for Las Palmas, starting the match before being substituted in the second half. Essugo was replaced by Javier Muñoz in the 74th minute, while Fábio Silva made way for Pejino a minute later in the 75th. Their contributions reflect the growing influence of Portuguese players in La Liga, adding another layer of intrigue to the competition.

As the dust settled on this round of fixtures, the top of the La Liga table remained fiercely competitive. Barcelona continued to lead the standings with 21 points, maintaining their strong start to the season. Real Madrid, fresh off a victory of their own, sat in second place with 17 points. Atlético Madrid’s victory moved them up to third with 15 points, while Villarreal, despite their earlier triumph, found themselves in fourth place with 14 points. With the league still in its early stages, the standings are likely to shift further as the season progresses, but the intensity of the competition is already clear.

For Atlético Madrid, the late win against Celta Vigo will serve as a confidence boost heading into the next phase of the season. Their ability to grind out results, even in difficult circumstances, continues to be a defining trait under Simeone’s leadership. Julián Álvarez’s integration into the squad has been seamless, and his ability to score crucial goals could prove to be the difference in Atlético’s pursuit of silverware this season. Meanwhile, Celta de Vigo will have to regroup and look ahead to their upcoming matches, determined to turn their promising performances into tangible results.

As La Liga enters its next round, all eyes will be on the top four teams, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Villarreal all aiming to solidify their positions and continue their strong starts to the campaign.