Real Oviedo 0-1 Atletico Madrid: Alvarez Delivers Late Dagger After Oblak Saves The Day

Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere, Sunday night – Julián Álvarez’s 94th-minute strike propelled Atlético Madrid to third in LaLiga and broke Real Oviedo hearts, sealing a 1-0 victory that had looked destined to end in stalemate until the final seconds of stoppage time.

The relegation-threatened hosts threw everything at Diego Simeone’s side, firing 16 shots and generating 1.1 expected goals, but Jan Oblak’s six decisive saves kept the scoresheet blank until Álvarez intervened. The Slovenian twice denied Federico Vilnas in the first half, palming away a low drive early on and clawing a close-range header off target, before thwarting Ilyas Chaira and Alberto Reina in first-half added time.

Oviedo’s high press disrupted Atlético’s rhythm, limiting the visitors to five first-half efforts—none on target—Atlético’s most shot-heavy yet shot-shy opening 45 minutes on the road since November 2021 at Cádiz. Simeone turned to Álvarez at the break, replacing Ademola Lookman, and the Argentine’s introduction injected urgency into the Rojiblancos, though Vilnas continued to torment the back line.

The closing stages crackled with drama: Alex Baena had a goal correctly ruled offside in the 86th minute, and moments later Oblak plucked Santi Cazorla’s cross off Vilnas’s head. Just when a draw appeared inevitable, Álvarez collected possession on the left, cut inside Kwasi Sibo, and lashed a low drive inside the near post at 93:11—Atlético’s latest LaLiga winner since Alexander Sørloth’s 95:37 strike against Barcelona last December.

The result lifts Atlético above Villarreal, who slipped after defeat to Barcelona earlier Saturday, while Oviedo remain eight points adrift of safety at the foot of the table, left to rue missed chances and a heroic but fruitless performance.