Cristian Romero headed in Alex Baena’s cross late on to give Atlético Madrid a 2-1 win at Alavés, who played the final half-hour with ten men after Ángel Pérez was sent off. Lucas Boyé’s penalty had cancelled out Atlético’s first-half lead.
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain: Atlético Madrid made hard work of it, but they left Mendizorroza with three points. Romero’s header in the closing minutes settled a La Liga match that Alavés had held level for most of the second half, even after losing a player.
A lead, then a penalty
Atlético went ahead in the 33rd minute when Alejandro Grimaldo finished after combining with Jonathan David. Alavés pulled level in first-half stoppage time: Robin Le Normand was judged to have fouled Toni Martínez at a set piece, and Boyé converted the penalty to send the sides in at 1-1.
Pérez sees red
The match turned in the 61st minute, when Pérez was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Julián Álvarez, a card upgraded to red after a VAR review. Alavés were down to ten, but the extra man did not immediately make a difference: it took Atlético another 26 minutes to find a winner.
Romero’s late header
The breakthrough came in the 87th minute. Baena, who had scored a free kick in Atlético’s season opener against Málaga, delivered the cross and Romero headed it in for the winner. The win lifted Atlético to second in La Liga, and they face Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Result: Deportivo Alavés 1, Atlético Madrid 2 (La Liga, Estadio de Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Saturday, 10 October 2026). Half-time: 1-1.
Scorers: Grimaldo 33′, Romero 87′ (Atlético); Boyé (pen., first-half stoppage time) (Alavés).
Red card: Ángel Pérez (Alavés), 61′.
