Julian Alvarez's "superpowers"

Not only is Julian Alvarez the heir to Antoine Griezmann's throne, but he is also proving that he possesses a "weapon" that the entire La Liga should be wary of: his free-kick ability.

Julian Alvarez is currently the attacking star of Atletico Madrid.

Not only is Julian Alvarez a worthy replacement for Antoine Griezmann, but he is also writing his own story at the Metropolitano in a way few expected. After the opening match of his second season, the Argentine striker quickly demonstrated a special quality: he is the most effective free-kick specialist Atletico has possessed in almost two decades.

The goal marked the beginning of a new chapter.

Last weekend, the Metropolitano stadium witnessed a moment of triumph when Alvarez unleashed a perfect free-kick, sending the ball straight into the Espanyol net. A goal that was both beautiful and cool, as if reaffirming that he is not only here to score in open play, but also to unlock seemingly deadlocked set-piece situations.

For the fans, it was a surprising breakthrough. But for those who had followed Alvarez closely, it was inevitable, given that he had previously scored two other successful free kicks – one in May against Real Betis and another in Prague in a European competition.

In less than a year, "Little Spider" has proven his versatile goal-scoring instincts, readily turning any set-piece situation into a real opportunity.

Statistics from the 2008/09 season show that no one in an Atletico Madrid shirt has achieved the same free-kick efficiency as Alvarez. After 12 attempts, he scored 3 goals – a success rate of 25%. This is a rare figure for modern free-kick takers. In the last two decades, only Radamel Falcao has come close, with an average of one goal every four attempts.

Alvarez is Atletico's new attacking star.

In comparison, Sergio Aguero, the Argentine striker, scored 2 goals from 13 direct free kicks, a success rate of 15.38%. Several other players, such as Elías and Emre Belözoğlu, also scored, but they only succeeded on a single attempt – a number insufficient for comparison.

The clearest comparison is Antoine Griezmann. The French striker was considered Atletico's top free-kick taker for many years, with 9 goals from 74 free kicks (a rate of 12.16%). That's not a bad performance, but compared to Alvarez – who only needed 12 attempts to score 3 goals – Griezmann has clearly been surpassed by his successor in terms of accuracy and lethality.

European stature

It's worth noting that during the same period, no player in the top five European leagues scored three goals from direct free kicks. Given that top specialists like Messi, James Ward-Prowse, and Kostic have already made their mark, Alvarez's rise to the top shows he is entering the ranks of the world's most dangerous free-kick takers at the moment.

This also helps explain why Atletico expects him to become their new leader, not only in terms of scoring goals in open play, but also in his ability to turn the tide from set pieces.

For Diego Simeone, Alvarez's arrival is not only an answer to the void left by Griezmann, but also a strategic step forward in their playing style. Under "El Cholo," Atletico has always prioritized solidity, discipline, and maximizing even the smallest opportunities. A free-kick specialist with a 25% success rate like Alvarez is a "gift" that any coach would desire.

At 25, Alvarez still has a long way to go.

Every time the former Man City star stands over the ball from 20-25 meters, the opposing goal is immediately put on alert. From a weapon used only to create opportunities, free kicks have now become a reliable goal-scoring option for the club. This not only helps them create more strengths in tense matches, but also adds to Simeone's already diverse tactical arsenal.

At 25, Alvarez has a long way to go. At least five more peak years await him. His brilliance from free kicks is just a glimpse of his career, but it's enough to confirm that he didn't come to Atletico just to be in Griezmann's shadow, but to build his own legacy.

Metropolitano fans have reason to believe they possess a complete star: a versatile goalscorer, a passionate player, and now an added "superpower" in free kicks. If he maintains this form, Alvarez could very well become a new icon, leading Atlético back to seasons that challenge all limits.

He has arrived to change history, and now, no barrier is high enough to stop the advance of "Little Spider."

Source: https://znews.vn/sieu-nang-luc-cua-julian-alvarez-post1579314.html