Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez ended an 84-day goal drought by scoring for the Argentina national team on Saturday. His strike was the fifth in a 5-0 friendly win over Burkina Faso at the Monumental stadium, providing a personal boost after a difficult start to the season with his club.
The Argentine had struggled for form with Atlético, failing to score in the four matches he has played for the red-and-white side across La Liga and the Champions League. His last goal before this one came on July 12th, in added time of a friendly against Switzerland. With the national team, however, he rediscovered his smile and his scoring touch.
The relieving goal
The goal arrived in the 36th minute of the first half. Gianluca Prestianni delivered a precise cross from the right flank which Álvarez, finding space in the heart of the box, met with a left-footed shot to beat goalkeeper Razak Guira. In his celebration, the forward made his trademark Spider-Man gesture and also raised his arms to the sky. His Atlético teammates, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez, were the first to embrace him.
Álvarez did not feature in the second half, a technical decision to manage his workload. His job on the pitch was more than done. The match also saw Lautaro Martínez score, drawing level with Sergio Agüero as Argentina's third all-time top scorer.
The Atlético context
The striker's club drought coincided with a period of tension following reports of his desire for a transfer to Barcelona during the summer window, a move that ultimately did not materialise. That situation impacted his early-season output, where he registered just one official assist. His return to the Argentina squad and this goal provide a significant morale boost ahead of the club season's resumption with Atlético Madrid.
Diego Simeone's team faces a packed schedule after the international break, with key matches in La Liga and the Champions League group stage. Álvarez returning with confidence is positive news for an attack seeking greater potency. Fans can check the full calendar on our fixtures page and the squad status in the squad section.
The 26-year-old forward will now travel back to Madrid to rejoin training at the Ciudad Deportiva in Majadahonda. His next objective is to translate this effectiveness to the Wanda Metropolitano, starting with the team's next official fixture.
