Alexander Sorloth’s header secures Atletico Madrid a 1-0 La Liga win over Alaves, boosting their grip on fourth and extending Sorloth’s scoring run.
Alexander Sorloth’s header earned Atletico Madrid a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Alaves and their first La Liga win of 2026. Diego Simeone’s side tightened their hold on fourth place with a disciplined display at the Estadio Metropolitano. The match marked Atletico’s first home league outing in over a month. It also ended a short run of draws and cup distractions.
Atletico controlled much of the opening half but struggled to break through a compact Alaves defence. Thiago Almada came closest before the break, seeing a close-range effort hacked off the line. Julian Alvarez worked tirelessly but found space limited in central areas. Alaves defended deep and looked to frustrate the hosts.
The breakthrough arrived three minutes after half-time. Pablo Barrios delivered a hanging cross from the right, inviting Sorloth to attack the space. The Norwegian guided his header onto the post and into the net beyond Antonio Sivera. It was Atletico’s first league goal at home since early December.
Atletico pushed for a second goal as Alaves began to tire. Substitute Alex Baena went closest, curling a left-footed effort against the woodwork. Antoine Griezmann was introduced just after the hour for his 335th Atletico appearance. That figure leaves him joint second among forwards in the club’s history.
Despite enjoying far less possession, Alaves remained competitive until the final whistle. Lucas Boye headed over from close range in stoppage time, their clearest chance. Jan Oblak was otherwise rarely troubled as Atletico stayed compact. Alaves failed to register a single shot on target from eight attempts.
Numbers underlined Atletico’s control across the ninety minutes. The hosts attempted 23 shots, with six testing the goalkeeper. Their expected goals total reached 1.78, compared to Alaves’ 0.85. Simeone’s side limited transitions well and managed the game with experience.
Sorloth’s recent form continues to stand out. The goal was his fifth headed strike in all competitions this season, matching Vedat Muriqi. Three of those have come in his last four matches. Simeone praised his movement, hold-up play and growing consistency.
Julian Alvarez again went without a goal, extending his drought to six matches. The Argentine managed four shots but generated low expected returns. Simeone remained confident his contribution would soon be rewarded. Atletico continue to rely on collective balance rather than individual output.
Barrios’ delivery for the winner summed up Atletico’s sharper second-half play. Oblak’s calm presence helped steady a nervy finish. Alaves competed well but lacked quality in decisive areas. Simeone’s tactical patience ultimately proved decisive.
The clean sheet was Atletico’s tenth in the league this season. Their defensive structure limited clear chances throughout. Alaves struggled to progress centrally and were forced wide. That suited Atletico’s disciplined back line.
The win lifts Atletico level on 41 points with third-placed Villarreal, separated only by goals scored and having played a game more. They are now seven points clear of Espanyol in fifth. Simeone’s side remain eight points behind leaders Barcelona and seven adrift of Real Madrid. Atletico next turn their focus to Europe where they travel to Turkey in midweek to play Galatasaray in the Champions League. Their next league fixture is against Mallorca at home, where they will be aiming to maintain momentum in the league. Alaves host Real Betis on 25th January.
