Atlético Madrid beat Deportivo Alavés 2-1 at Mendizorrotza, where Cristian Romero’s 87th-minute header ended the visitors’ four-match winless run. The late goal settled a match in which Atlético had gone ahead, conceded a penalty before the break and then faced a stubborn Alavés defence. Into the Calderón’s match analysis described the result as a long-awaited answer to Atlético’s recent struggles at the ground.

Alejandro Grimaldo opened the scoring with his third goal of the season, finishing after a move that began with a combination involving Jonathan David. The goal was another contribution from a player who had made a strong start to life at Atlético; Grimaldo’s arrival had added a new attacking option to the side.

Robin Le Normand conceded a penalty before half-time by bringing down Toni Martínez in the area, and Lucas Boyé converted to make it 1-1. Alavés were reduced to 10 men in the second half, but Atlético still had to find a way through the hosts’ defence before Romero settled the contest.

The Argentine defender moved into a striker-like position and arrived at the back post to meet Álex Baena’s cross. It was Romero’s first goal for Atlético and the decisive moment in a game that had threatened to end without a winner. His summer move from Tottenham had brought a new centre-back into Diego Simeone’s squad ; at Mendizorrotza, he supplied the finish as well as his defensive presence.

The victory ended a run of four matches without a win for Atlético at Alavés’ ground, making the three points more than a routine away result. Into the Calderón’s writer also argued that Romero had brought structure to an Atlético back line that had lacked it in recent seasons. That is an assessment of his influence, rather than a match statistic, but his late intervention gave the visit a clear headline.

Atlético’s response after Boyé’s equaliser was central to the outcome. They had been punished for Le Normand’s foul, yet kept the pressure on after the break and made the extra player count late in the game. The result also followed the club’s return from the international break, giving Simeone’s side a timely win on the road.

Into the Calderón assessed Ademola Lookman as imprecise in his first appearance after a three-week international break. The winger completed 16 of 18 passes, but Alavés defender Nahuel Tenaglia limited his impact in the first half. Baena came on in his position and provided the pass that changed the match, offering Atlético a more decisive contribution in the closing stages.

The same analysis noted that Pablo Barrios had protection from Koke and Johnny Cardoso behind him, while Julián Alvarez was still looking for a goal. Those details were secondary to the result, but they underline how Atlético’s substitutes and midfield balance helped sustain the push for a winner. Baena’s delivery found Romero, and Atlético left Mendizorrotza with a victory that had eluded them on their previous four visits.