Cerezo expects Alvarez to make his mark as Atletico face Barcelona in title showdown

Atletico de Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has told Julian Alvarez to put the controversy behind him and respond on the pitch when his side host Barcelona in a decisive La Liga meeting on Sunday.

The two clubs are separated by only two points in the table, with Atletico aiming to use home advantage at the Metropolitano to take top spot from Barcelona. Cerezo believes the Argentina forward has a clear role to play in the contest: score goals for his club.

Speaking to Spanish media before the match, Cerezo discussed Alvarez’s position and said he expected the striker to produce a strong performance in what promises to be a significant occasion for him.

“It is a very special match for him, but I think he has already apologised and admitted his mistake,” Cerezo said. “Now what he has to do is play and score goals for Atletico de Madrid.”

Alvarez was one of the central figures in the build-up to the match, with Cerezo’s comments making clear that the club president wants the forward’s focus to be on his contribution against Barcelona rather than on the incident for which he apologised.

Cerezo was also asked whether Barcelona president Joan Laporta might use the meeting between the clubs to enquire about the Argentine’s future. His answer was brief but firm.

“He will get his answer,” Cerezo said.

The response appeared to close down further speculation over Alvarez’s future and reinforced Atletico’s view that the striker belongs at the heart of their attack.

Cerezo sets Champions League target

Cerezo also assessed Atletico’s current form and said he was satisfied with the club’s position across the competitions in which they are involved. However, he identified the Champions League as the area where improvement is needed.

“The truth is that we are performing very well,” he said. “We need to improve our performance in the Champions League. I think that in the Champions League, in the next match, we will try to win as usual and put ourselves in a good position to be among the top eight, if possible.”

Atletico de Madrid face Barcelona at the Metropolitano on Sunday, 08 November 2026, with the result potentially reshaping the top of La Liga.