´Angry´ Alvarez laments missed hat-trick chance

Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez was left frustrated after he failed to complete a hat-trick in Sunday’s 4-1 rout of Real Betis.

Conference League finalists Betis were no match for Atleti, who marked their final LaLiga home match of the season with an emphatic win.

Alvarez scored in the 10th minute, doubling his tally after Robin Le Normand had grabbed Atleti’s second.

Pablo Fornals had dragged Betis back into it before Alvarez made it 3-1, with Angel Correa adding further gloss in stoppage time.

However, Alvarez, who is Atleti’s t-leading scorer in LaLiga this term with 17 goals, was left to lament a big chance missed to get his third goal, after he hit the post following a mazy run.

“I was very angry, the goal was right there in front of me but I made the wrong decision with the shot,” he told DAZN.

“I’m happy, sure, but the hat-trick will stay in the back of my mind.

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— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 18, 2025

“The team played a great game. It was a nice goal from the free-kick.

“There are still things to improve, but we are looking forward to the Club World Cup, which starts in less than a month.”

Alvarez has scored 29 goals in 53 appearances this season in all competitions, making him the player to score the most goals in his first season for Atleti since Radamel Falcao in 2011-12 (36 goals in 50 appearances).

Atleti finished with a whopping 4.86 expected goals from 20 shots, meaning not only did they create plenty of opportunities, but also they were on, average, of a high quality.

It is the highest xG they have managed in a single league match this season.