Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo challenges Julian Alvarez to answer Barcelona with two goals

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has challenged Julian Alvarez to score twice against Barcelona as the best response to the dispute that surrounded the forward.

Cerezo was speaking to the media at a directors’ lunch before Atletico’s eagerly anticipated La Liga match against Barcelona on 22 November 2026.

“My feelings are good today, but today’s match is difficult,” Cerezo said, according to AS. “As always, we will try to win it.”

Asked whether everything between Atletico and Barcelona had been resolved, Cerezo said the issue involving Alvarez had already been dealt with.

“With Barcelona, the Julian Alvarez matter was resolved at the time,” he said. “We said what we had to say, and that was the end of it.”

He added: “There is no need to talk about Julian with Barcelona any more. Today, Julian has to prove himself on the pitch. If you journalists say he should be the star of the match, then he will be.”

Asked whether one goal would be the ideal apology from Alvarez, Cerezo replied: “Not one goal, but two goals” against Barcelona.

“The match tonight is already a good one,” he said. “Let’s hope the players rise to the occasion.”

Cerezo also played down the significance of Atletico moving top of the league if they beat Barcelona, saying the club had occupied first place many times before.

“We have topped the league many times previously, so there is no need to worry too much about going top again,” he said. “There is still a long way to go.”

He added: “Well, it is better to be top before the international break than to be in a lower position.”

Cerezo praises Barcelona and addresses Laporta meeting

Asked whether he would speak to Barcelona president Laporta during the day, Cerezo said the two men had maintained regular contact.

“I have spoken to him every year since we became presidents,” he said. “Why would I not speak to him today?”

Atletico are due to face Barcelona twice in less than a month, but Cerezo said that was simply a consequence of the fixture schedule.

“That is how things work, and you know how the fixture draw works,” he said. “What can I do?”

He rejected the suggestion that Barcelona intimidated him, although he offered a strong assessment of their quality.

“Do they frighten me? They are a good team,” Cerezo said. “One of the best teams in Europe, if not the best.”

Asked whether Atletico could challenge Barcelona in La Liga, he replied: “We are competing at the moment. We are competing.”

Cerezo was also asked what Real Madrid supporters would prefer to see happen in the match. “The truth is, I do not know,” he said. “You have to ask Real Madrid fans.”

Finally, he was questioned about when the National Football League might come to Metropolitano Stadium.

“I do not know,” Cerezo said. “We have so many commitments at the stadium that I do not know whether we could accept any more.”