Julián Álvarez strikes three minutes into the second half as Atlético Madrid beat Deportivo 1-0

Atlético Madrid needed only one real moment to beat Deportivo at the Metropolitano, Julián Álvarez turning home an Alejandro Grimaldo pass three minutes into the second half for the only goal of a 1-0 win. From there, Diego Simeone's side spent more time managing the scoreline than extending it, and the match ended with more cards shown than chances created.

Álvarez does it again

Álvarez's 48th-minute finish has become a familiar pattern for Atlético this season — a team that leans on one moment of quality from its Argentine forward rather than overwhelming an opponent with volume. Atlético had the better of the ball, 55.6% of possession to Deportivo's 44.4%, but the shot count barely reflected that: Deportivo actually finished with more shots on target, five to Atlético's four, without ever forcing a save that mattered as much as Álvarez's goal already had.

Five yellow cards in the last quarter of an hour

The game's other story was discipline in the closing stages. Marc Pubill was the only player booked in the first hour, cautioned on 26 minutes, but four more yellows followed inside the last fifteen: Yeremay Hernández and Giacomo Quagliata for Deportivo, then substitutes Alexander Sørloth and Álex Baena, and Giuliano Simeone, all for Atlético, between the 75th and 87th minute. None of it changed the result, but it turned a comfortable home win into a scrappy finish.

Match facts

• 48' — Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), assist Alejandro Grimaldo

Line-ups

Simeone set out a 4-3-3 with Jan Oblak in goal behind a back four of Dávid Hancko, Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo and Marcos Llorente, Morten Hjulmand and Pablo Barrios screening in front of them, and Álex Baena, Julián Álvarez, Ademola Lookman and Lee Kang-In forming the attack. Rodrigo Mendoza, Giuliano Simeone, Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sørloth came off the bench. Deportivo lined up in a 5-3-2 with Leo Román behind José María Giménez, Miguel Loureiro, Adrià Altimira and Giacomo Quagliata, Diego Villares and Lorenzo Amatucci in midfield alongside David Mella, and Mario Soriano and Yeremay Hernández supporting Bil Nsongo up front. Luismi Cruz, Riki Rodríguez, Kevin Sánchez, Jonathan Asp Jensen and Adama Traoré were introduced during the second half.

Deportivo's run without a win reaches five

The defeat extends a flat month for Deportivo, who went into this match without a win in five league games — draws against Getafe, Real Betis and Levante either side of defeats to Sevilla and Real Sociedad. That stretch has cost them more than points: having conceded just five goals across their first four matches of the season, they have let in seven across those five winless games alone, a sign that the defensive solidity behind their mid-table start has started to slip.

What's next

Atlético's win takes them to 25 points, second in LaLiga and nine off leaders Barcelona. Deportivo stay on 11 points, which drops them to 10th once the table is updated for the rest of the round — their goal difference now back to level after sitting on plus one going into this game.