Have Barcelona fans jinxed Álvarez? Atlético star bottles one-on-one after provocation. VIDEO
The 12th-round La Liga clash between Atlético and Barcelona got off to a nightmare start for Julián Álvarez. Just five minutes in, the Argentine forward found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but failed to get a shot away. The striker lost his composure at the crucial moment and squandered the chance to open the scoring in this highly anticipated showdown.
The incident took on extra intrigue because of the forward's transfer history. Before the match, Barcelona fans gathered outside the Metropolitano and chanted that Álvarez was a supporter of the Catalan club. In doing so, the fans recalled the Argentine's failed move, with Barcelona having shown interest in him during the summer.
However, Barcelona have yet to capitalize on the Argentine's miss. With 20 minutes played, Atlético lead 1-0 thanks to a goal from Giovanni Simeone. The hosts have seized the initiative, while Álvarez's blunder has become one of the most talked-about moments of the opening stages.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
