Julián Escapes Expulsion, But Not Suspension!
Thank goodness we have VAR! Martínez Munuera had sent off Julián Álvarez, but the VAR’s intervention corrected the decision, although it did result in his fifth yellow card.
In the end, Julián avoided a straight red in a match where his pressure and commitment were key, but the accumulation of cautions leaves him out of the next match at the Metropolitano against Real Sociedad. The controversial play occurred near halftime, when Julián pressed Garcés.
The referee interpreted it as a dangerous foul and didn’t hesitate to show the red card. The reaction from the Atlético bench, led by Simeone, was immediate, requesting a review of the play. VAR ruled that Julián did not impact the opponent forcefully, thus avoiding the expulsion.
However, the yellow card was inevitable, adding the fifth to his personal account. A significant absence for El Cholo, who loses a key player in the team’s pressure and attack. Despite the relief of avoiding the red, Julián’s absence against Real Sociedad will be an important challenge for Atlético. We will have to rely on the squad depth and the team’s fighting spirit to face this challenge and continue adding victories.
