Spider-Man who saved Cholo's skin

Just a week ago, the situation at Atletico Madrid was unbearable. After five La Liga rounds, the club aiming the title was in the bottom half of the table and the heart-breaking 3-2 defeat to Liverpool - despite Atleti's decent display at Anfield - in the Champions League opening game didn't help either.

On top of everything, the manager, Diego Simeone and the team's superstar, Julian Alvarez, had reportedly fell out. Even though he's been at the club since 2011 and although he "snatched" two titles from Real Madrid and Barcelona, won two Europa Leagues, and led Atleti to as many UCL finals, Cholo's job was on the line.

Simeone and Alvarez during training (©Reuters/Susana Vera/Gallo Images)

Eight days ago, the Madrid side drew with Mallorca on the road, while Alvarez missed a penalty. Simeone subbed him out shortly after the hour mark for Alexander Sorloth, who was sent off just ten minutes later, and the ex-Man City striker was fuming with the sub.

The media began to buzz with speculations about Cholo's imminent sack and Alvarez's potential departure. The striker's first coach, Hugo Rafael Varas, openly criticized Simeone, just adding to the pressure at Metropolitano Stadium.

"I don't see him comfortable with Simeone. He's played a lot of games, he's not the striker he always was, because he's never played in the position he should be playing. I don't see him comfortable at Atletico. I think he's played a lot of games on the wing, he's never played in the position he should be playing."

"Today, Atletico is a team that defends a lot and attacks little. I see him more as a passer than a finisher. He's scoring goals from free kicks or outside the box. The team isn't getting much forward for Julian to be the No. 9 he scored goals for River," Varas told the Spanish Diario AS.

Moreover, he ignited a fire, publicly linking Alvarez to Barcelona!

"Someone just told me he should go to Barcelona, ​​and the truth is he's not at Barcelona because he didn't put in the money he should have. He would leave because he's always been a Barcelona fan," Varas bluntly revealed.

Atletico humiliates Real with five goals scored

And then, as if the Argentinian spirit of solidarity woke up, the popular "Spider" stepped up, bagged a hat-trick in a 3-2 win against Rayo Vallecano when Atleti were on the verge of a defeat and then netted a brace in Derbi Madrileno, destroying Real Madrid!

Atletico recorded two wins, scored eight goals in two games, and tore the city rivals apart, bagging five goals against Los Blancos for the first time since 1950! All thanks to Alvarez, who netted five times himself.

After the clash against Rayo, Cholo spoke highly of his compatriot.

"Julian is the best player we have. We need to take care of him, to keep him here at Atleti for many years. He has to help us, and we have to help him, so he can become even better than he already is. Every time he makes a difference, he helps us a lot," the tactician said via Diario AS.

Now, nobody talks about Simeone getting sacked or the problem between the two Argentinians. Is it just swept under the rug? No one can tell, but as long as Atletico are winning, everything will be fine.

And even though this is not a Marvel Comics story - Atleti's Spider-Man Julian Alvarez saved Diego Simeone's skin.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 7

Friday

Girona - Espanyol 0-0

Saturday

Atl.Madrid - Real Madrid 5-2 (2-2)

/Le Normand 14, Sorloth 45+3, Alvarez 51 (p), 63, Griezmann 90+3 - Mbappe 25, Guler 36/

Mallorca - Alaves 1-0 (1-0)

/Asano 37/

Villarreal - Athletic Bilbao 1-0 (0-0)

/Moleiro 77/

Sunday

Rayo Vallecano - Sevilla 0-1 (0-0)

/Adams 87/

Elche - Celta 2-1 (1-1)

/Silva 18, Nwankwo 68 - Iglesias 22/

Barcelona - Sociedad 2-1 (1-1)

/Kounde 43, Lewandowski 59 - Odriozola 31/

Betis - Osasuna 2-0 (2-0)

/Ezzalzouli 19, Hernandez 38/

Monday

22.00: (1.70) Valencia (3.60) Oviedo (5.40)

***odds are subject to change***