Atlético de Madrid has now secured six consecutive victories, with Julián Álvarez netting nine goals this season. His brace led the team to a crushing 6-0 win over Sparta Prague, showcasing the undeniable superiority of the rojiblanco side. The result also strengthened Atlético’s position as a strong contender for a top-eight finish, which guarantees direct qualification to the Champions League Round of 16, with three group stage matches still to play. 

The significance of this winning streak is magnified by the time elapsed since their last similar run: 13 months ago, in October 2023, or 63 matches. Two of these recent victories have come on the road in Europe’s premier competition. Before their 2-1 triumph over PSG, Atlético had managed only one win in their previous ten away games.

The victory was rounded off by a 2-0 goal from Marcos Llorente before halftime (he also provided two assists), a 4-0 strike by Antoine Griezmann in the 70th minute, and a late double from Ángel Correa in the 84th and 89th minutes to complete the 6-0 rout. This performance has lifted Atlético from a precarious position after their defeat at the Parc des Princes to a promising outlook in the tournament. With nine points, the team now controls its destiny, with upcoming home games against Slovan Bratislava and Bayer Leverkusen, plus a visit to Salzburg in the final round. 

“The new Champions League format always pushes you to win,” remarked Diego Simeone. He’s right. While the new format has brought surprising results, it also highlights the gulf in quality between certain teams. Atlético is infinitely superior to Sparta Prague—no contest. Simeone’s squad is valued at €651 million, compared to Lars Friis’s side at just €158 million. However, this disparity doesn’t diminish the rojiblancos’ disciplined, dominant, and commanding performance.

Not even Sparta’s early chance 51 seconds into the game, saved by Jan Oblak, disrupted Atlético’s control. It was only a matter of time before they seized the upper hand. Julián Álvarez, a truly standout player, was instrumental throughout the match. His elegance, creativity, and determination were evident as he drove, combined, and dribbled past opponents. Having scored five goals in his last six matches, Álvarez is proving to be a decisive figure. 

His first goal came from a precisely taken free kick. Shortly before halftime, Llorente extended the lead to 2-0 with a deceptive play that left the goalkeeper wrong-footed. In the second half, Atlético maintained their dominance, with Álvarez scoring again before Griezmann and Correa added three more to seal the emphatic victory and improve the team’s goal difference, a key factor in the competition’s format.