Alavés 1–2 Atlético Madrid: Why Atlético's Late Winner Made the Difference
Atlético Madrid left it late, but they found a way to defeat Alavés 2–1 on 10 October 2026. A dramatic second-half battle, a VAR-reviewed red card and a decisive 87th-minute header combined to produce a victory that was about far more than the final score.
Alejandro Grimaldo gave Atlético the lead in the 34th minute after a well-worked attacking move involving Jonathan David. Alavés responded just before half-time when Lucas Boyé converted a penalty to make it 1–1.
The match changed again in the 61st minute when Ángel Pérez was sent off following a VAR review, leaving Alavés with ten players. Atlético had a numerical advantage for the remainder of the contest, but they still needed to find a way through a determined home defence.
That breakthrough finally arrived in the 87th minute. Alex Baena delivered a lofted pass into the penalty area, and Cristian Gabriel Romero rose above his marker to head the ball into the right side of the net.
Alavés tried to respond, but Atlético protected their advantage and secured all three points.
So, why did Atlético win? The answer lies in their attacking patience, their ability to exploit the numerical advantage and their execution at a decisive moment.
Welcome to MatchWhy, where we don't just tell you the score — we explain why.
Match Details
- Fixture: Alavés vs Atlético Madrid
- Final score: Alavés 1–2 Atlético Madrid
- Date: Saturday, 10 October 2026
- Kick-off: 16:15
- Referee: Alejandro Quintero
Goalscorers
| Team | Player | Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Atlético Madrid | Alejandro Grimaldo | 34' |
| Alavés | Lucas Boyé (penalty) | 45+6' |
| Atlético Madrid | Cristian Gabriel Romero | 87' |
Major incident: Ángel Pérez was sent off for Alavés in the 61st minute following a VAR review.
First Half: Atlético Take the Lead, but Alavés Fight Back
The opening half showed two teams with different attacking approaches. Atlético attempted to create opportunities through combinations around the penalty area, while Alavés looked to threaten through direct attacks, crosses and efforts from distance.
Neither side had an easy route to goal.
Alavés Start With an Early Warning
Alavés had an opportunity to make an early statement in the sixth minute when Ángel Pérez struck from outside the penalty area.
His first attempt went narrowly past the right post, while another effort from distance failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
These early chances showed that Alavés were prepared to attack rather than simply sit back against Atlético.
However, Atlético soon began to establish greater control of possession.
At the 12th minute, the recorded possession statistics showed Atlético ahead with 65%, compared with Alavés' 35%.
That advantage allowed the visitors to circulate the ball and look for openings between the lines.
Atlético Test Antonio Sivera
Atlético created several promising chances during the opening 20 minutes.
In the 14th minute, Jonathan David attempted a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Antonio Sivera produced an excellent save to prevent the ball from entering near the right post.
Four minutes later, Ademola Lookman found himself with a major opportunity inside the six-yard box. He directed his effort towards the bottom-left corner, but Sivera reacted brilliantly to deny him.
The goalkeeper's interventions were important. Atlético were creating dangerous chances, but Alavés remained level because their goalkeeper was performing well.
Marcos Llorente also tried his luck from outside the box in the 20th minute, although his effort lacked the power to trouble Sivera.
Atlético were beginning to create sustained pressure, but they still needed a finish.
Alavés Threaten From Crosses and Set Pieces
Alavés continued to look for opportunities of their own.
In the 30th minute, Antonio Blanco played a promising pass into Nicolas Valentini, who found space inside the penalty area but sent his shot narrowly wide of the right post.
Five minutes later, Atlético finally found the breakthrough.
34th Minute: Alejandro Grimaldo Makes It 0–1
Jonathan David played a square pass into the penalty area, finding Alejandro Grimaldo in a dangerous position.
Grimaldo controlled the opportunity, composed himself and struck a low shot into the middle of the goal.
Alavés 0–1 Atlético Madrid.
The goal rewarded Atlético's attacking pressure and demonstrated the value of moving the ball into dangerous areas before the defence could recover its shape.
David's pass created the opportunity, while Grimaldo's composure ensured that Atlético finally converted one of their chances.
However, Alavés were not finished.
Toni Martínez Comes Close
In the 37th minute, Toni Martínez found space around the penalty spot and rose to meet a free-kick delivery.
He directed his header towards the bottom-right corner, but Jan Oblak made the save.
Atlético's goalkeeper had answered Sivera's earlier heroics with an important intervention of his own.
Alavés continued looking for a way back into the contest, while Atlético attempted to protect their lead and maintain control.
Then came a decisive moment just before half-time.
45+1st Minute: Alavés Win a Penalty
Robin Le Normand committed a foul that the referee judged to be a penalty.
The Atlético defender received a yellow card, and Alavés were handed an opportunity to equalise before the break.
Lucas Boyé stepped forward to take responsibility.
45+6th Minute: Lucas Boyé Makes It 1–1
Boyé kept his composure and sent the penalty low past Oblak into the middle of the goal.
Alavés 1–1 Atlético Madrid.
The equaliser changed the mood of the match.
Atlético had spent much of the first half creating opportunities and had finally taken the lead, but the penalty ensured that the teams went into the dressing room level.
For Alavés, the timing was excellent. They had recovered from conceding and restored belief just before half-time.
For Atlético, it was a reminder that controlling the game did not guarantee control of the scoreline.
MatchWhy Tactical Sketch: How the First-Half Goals Happened
ATLÉTICO MADRID — 0–1
Jonathan David
|
| Square pass
v
Alejandro Grimaldo
|
Low finish
|
v
GOAL — 34'
ALAVÉS — 1–1
Penalty awarded
|
v
Lucas Boyé
|
Low penalty kick
|
v
GOAL — 45+6'
The first-half goals came from different situations. Atlético created their breakthrough through a passing combination inside the box, while Alavés equalised from the penalty spot.
Both teams had demonstrated that they could score, setting up an important second half.
Second Half: The Match Changes After a VAR Red Card
The second half began with both sides needing to make their attacking opportunities count.
Atlético had already shown that they could create chances, but they needed greater precision in the final third. Alavés, meanwhile, had to maintain their defensive organisation while continuing to threaten on the counterattack.
The first major opportunity came through Atlético's attacking pressure.
Atlético Increase Their Pressure
Atlético won a series of corners during the second half, forcing Alavés to defend repeated deliveries into the penalty area.
Grimaldo delivered corners, but Alavés' defenders repeatedly cleared the ball.
In the 67th minute, Marcos Llorente produced a low shot from mid-range, but Sivera was well positioned to make the save.
Atlético were creating pressure, but Alavés were still preventing them from taking the lead again.
Then, in the 61st minute, the biggest disciplinary incident of the match changed the situation.
61st Minute: Ángel Pérez Is Sent Off After VAR Review
Ángel Pérez had already received a yellow card in the 59th minute following a foul.
The referee subsequently reviewed the incident using VAR and decided to show Pérez a red card.
Alavés were reduced to ten players.
The dismissal created a significant tactical challenge for the home side. They now had fewer players available to defend the width of the pitch, track Atlético's attacking movements and close down shooting opportunities.
Atlético, on the other hand, had a numerical advantage that they could use to stretch the defence and increase their pressure.
But there was still a match to win.
Atlético needed to use their extra player intelligently, move the ball patiently and avoid becoming predictable in their attacking approach.
MatchWhy Tactical Sketch: The Numerical Advantage
ATLÉTICO MADRID
11 PLAYERS
|
Move ball quickly
|
Stretch the defence
/ \
Wide delivery Central pass
\ /
\ /
Find space
|
v
ATTACK
ALAVÉS
10 PLAYERS
|
Protect central areas
|
Track runners and crosses
|
Block shots and headers
|
Look for counterattacks
This is a conceptual illustration of the tactical challenge after the red card, not a verified formation diagram.
The numerical advantage gave Atlético more options, but Alavés could still defend effectively by keeping their remaining players organised and protecting the penalty area.
Alavés Defend, but Atlético Keep Searching
Following the red card, Alavés needed to balance two responsibilities: defend their goal and avoid abandoning their attacking threat entirely.
Atlético continued to look for openings.
In the 73rd minute, Giuliano Simeone was replaced by Alexander Sørloth, giving Atlético another attacking option.
David Hancko also entered the match, while Kang-In Lee had come on earlier for Pablo Barrios.
These changes gave Atlético fresh personnel as they attempted to turn their numerical advantage into a second goal.
Alavés made substitutions of their own, including changes in midfield and defence, in an effort to remain competitive.
Atlético continued to create opportunities from the edge of the box and through corners.
In the 77th minute, Julián Álvarez struck an effort narrowly wide. A minute later, Grimaldo forced Sivera into a comfortable save.
Atlético then won another corner, but Alavés cleared the delivery.
The home side were under pressure, yet they continued to frustrate the visitors.
At this stage, Atlético needed more than possession and attacking volume. They needed the quality of delivery and movement that could finally break down the ten-man defence.
That moment arrived in the 87th minute.
87th Minute: Cristian Romero Delivers the Winner
Atlético's decisive goal came from an excellent piece of delivery and aerial finishing.
Alex Baena played a lofted pass into the penalty area.
Cristian Gabriel Romero attacked the ball, beat his marker in the air and directed a close-range header into the right side of the goal.
Alavés 1–2 Atlético Madrid.
Atlético had finally found the breakthrough they needed.
The goal was important not only because it restored their lead, but also because it came late enough to leave Alavés with very little time to respond.
Baena's delivery was precise, while Romero's movement and timing allowed him to reach the ball ahead of the defender.
The finish demonstrated why crosses can remain dangerous even when a team has spent much of the match trying to break down a compact defence.
Alavés had defended for long periods after the red card, but one decisive aerial duel changed the outcome.
MatchWhy Tactical Sketch: The Winning Header
ATLÉTICO ATTACK
Alex Baena
|
| Lofted pass
v
Penalty area
|
v
Cristian Gabriel Romero
|
Wins header
|
v
GOAL — 87'
ALAVÉS 1–2 ATLÉTICO
The key elements were the quality of the pass, Romero's ability to win the aerial duel and his accuracy in directing the header towards goal.
Atlético had been applying pressure, but the winning goal required a decisive action rather than simply another attack.
The Final Minutes: Alavés Cannot Find Another Equaliser
Atlético's goal forced Alavés to abandon any remaining hope of protecting the draw.
The home side needed to attack, but they also had to do so with ten players against an opponent that could use the extra man to retain possession and manage the closing stages.
Mariano Díaz attempted to create an opportunity in the 85th minute, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
Atlético continued to defend the advantage while remaining alert to opportunities in the final third.
Johnny Cardoso received a yellow card in the 90+2nd minute for a hard tackle.
The match statistics recorded ten corners for Atlético compared with none for Alavés, highlighting the extent of the visitors' set-piece pressure.
Alavés could not turn the final minutes into a sustained comeback.
After six minutes of added time, the referee blew the final whistle at 90+7.
Full-time: Alavés 1–2 Atlético Madrid.
MatchWhy Tactical Breakdown: Why Atlético Madrid Won
1. Atlético Created Better Attacking Combinations
Atlético's opening goal came from a simple but effective passing move.
Jonathan David played the ball across the penalty area, and Grimaldo finished after finding himself in a dangerous position.
The goal showed the value of moving the ball into the box with purpose rather than relying exclusively on long-range attempts.
Atlético continued searching for similar opportunities in the second half, although Alavés' defensive organisation made it difficult to find space.
Their eventual winner came from a different route: a lofted pass and a header.
The ability to threaten through both combinations and aerial delivery gave Atlético more ways to attack.
2. The Red Card Changed the Tactical Balance
Ángel Pérez's dismissal in the 61st minute was one of the defining events of the match.
Alavés lost a player and had to defend the remainder of the contest with ten men.
That made it more difficult to close down Atlético's wide players, track runners and defend crosses without leaving space elsewhere.
Atlético were able to maintain pressure and force repeated defensive actions.
However, the red card did not automatically win the match for them. Alavés remained level until the 87th minute, and Atlético still needed a decisive finish.
3. Atlético's Delivery Finally Beat Alavés' Defence
Alavés had dealt with several corners and crosses before Romero's goal.
The difference was the quality and timing of Baena's lofted pass.
Romero won the aerial duel and directed his header into the goal.
The winning move demonstrated that the effectiveness of a cross depends on more than simply delivering the ball into the penalty area. The passer must find a dangerous area, and the attacker must time the run and finish accurately.
Atlético executed that sequence successfully.
4. Alavés Could Not Maintain Their Defensive Resistance
Alavés deserve credit for staying in the contest for as long as they did after being reduced to ten players.
Sivera made several saves, and the defence cleared numerous deliveries.
But defending for an extended period with one fewer player places increasing demands on concentration, positioning and physical effort.
Eventually, Romero found the space to attack Baena's delivery.
The goal exposed the difficulty of protecting a draw when the opposition can repeatedly send the ball into dangerous areas.
5. Atlético Managed the Late Stages Better
After taking the lead in the 87th minute, Atlético needed to avoid giving Alavés a chance to equalise.
The visitors maintained their advantage through the closing minutes and prevented the home side from finding another goal.
The late yellow card for Cardoso was a reminder that Atlético still needed discipline, but they successfully managed the remaining time.
Alavés had too little time to build a meaningful response.
Key Match Statistics and Incidents
| Match detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Final score | Alavés 1–2 Atlético Madrid |
| Atlético's first goal | Alejandro Grimaldo, 34' |
| Alavés equaliser | Lucas Boyé, 45+6' (penalty) |
| Red card | Ángel Pérez, 61' |
| Atlético's winner | Cristian Gabriel Romero, 87' |
| Corners | Alavés 0–Atlético Madrid 10 |
| Referee | Alejandro Quintero |
| Full-time whistle | 90+7' |
The corner statistics are particularly notable. Atlético won ten corners while Alavés had none, according to the supplied commentary.
That figure supports the observation that Atlético repeatedly placed Alavés under pressure, especially after the home side lost a player.
However, corners alone do not explain the result. The decisive factor was Atlético's ability to convert one of their late attacking opportunities.
The Players Who Shaped the Match
Alejandro Grimaldo — Atlético Madrid
Grimaldo opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a composed finish after Jonathan David's square pass.
His goal gave Atlético an advantage and rewarded their early attacking pressure.
Lucas Boyé — Alavés
Boyé converted the penalty in first-half stoppage time to bring Alavés level.
His finish was important because it ensured that Atlético did not carry their lead into the interval.
Cristian Gabriel Romero — Atlético Madrid
Romero scored the winning goal with an 87th-minute header.
His aerial strength and timing proved decisive after Atlético had spent much of the second half trying to break down Alavés' defence.
Alex Baena — Atlético Madrid
Baena supplied the lofted pass that led to Romero's goal.
The quality of the delivery created the decisive opportunity.
Antonio Sivera — Alavés
Sivera made several important saves, including interventions against Jonathan David and Ademola Lookman in the first half.
Without those saves, Atlético might have established a more comfortable advantage earlier in the match.
Jan Oblak — Atlético Madrid
Oblak denied Toni Martínez in the first half, but he could not prevent Boyé's penalty.
His contribution helped Atlético remain competitive before they eventually found the winning goal.
Why Alavés Lost Despite Fighting Back
Alavés' defeat was not simply the result of one mistake.
Three factors were particularly important.
First, Atlético created dangerous chances throughout the match. Sivera kept the score close with several saves, but the visitors continued to threaten through combinations and set pieces.
Second, the red card made the defensive task harder. From the 61st minute onwards, Alavés had fewer players available to protect the penalty area and close down attacking spaces.
Third, Atlético took advantage of a decisive late opportunity. Romero's header arrived in the 87th minute, leaving Alavés very little time to recover.
Alavés showed resilience by equalising before half-time and defending for a long period after the dismissal. But resilience alone was not enough to secure a point.
What Atlético Madrid Can Take From This Victory
Atlético will be pleased with their persistence.
They created opportunities in the first half, recovered from conceding a penalty and continued attacking after Alavés were reduced to ten men.
Their winner was particularly important because it showed that they could find a different route to goal when their passing combinations were not producing enough clear chances.
Baena's delivery and Romero's header provided the decisive solution.
At the same time, Atlético will know that the match was more complicated than the final score suggests. Sivera made important saves, Alavés found an equaliser before half-time, and the visitors needed a late goal to secure victory.
The result nevertheless demonstrated the value of patience, attacking variety and quality in decisive moments.
The Match in One Sentence
Atlético Madrid defeated Alavés 2–1 because they maintained their attacking pressure after Ángel Pérez's red card and finally found the winning goal through Cristian Romero's 87th-minute header.
Alavés and Atlético Madrid produced a contest shaped by attacking opportunities, a penalty, a VAR-reviewed red card and a decisive late finish.
Atlético took the lead through Grimaldo in the 34th minute, but Boyé's penalty ensured that the teams were level at half-time.
The dismissal of Ángel Pérez in the 61st minute changed the tactical balance. Atlético had an extra player and used the advantage to sustain pressure, win corners and keep Alavés defending.
Yet the breakthrough did not arrive immediately.
It took until the 87th minute for Baena to deliver the pass that allowed Romero to score the winning header.
Alavés had defended stubbornly, but Atlético's persistence and quality in the final third ultimately made the difference.
The lesson is straightforward: numerical advantages can create opportunities, but teams still need the right delivery, movement and finishing to turn pressure into goals.
Atlético found that combination when it mattered most.
At MatchWhy, we don't just tell you the score. We explain why.
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