Buenos Aires hosted an extraordinary international night as Argentina swept Burkina Faso aside 7-0, with Atlético de Madrid’s contingent leaving its mark in a match shaped as much by the visitors’ difficult journey as by the hosts’ attacking freedom.
Burkina Faso arrived in the Argentine capital only six hours before kick-off after severe logistical trouble with their flight from Casablanca forced them to assemble an emergency squad drawn from their Under-23 group. Against that backdrop, Argentina ran away with one of the heaviest victories in their recent international history.
Julián Álvarez scored his first goal of the season, a welcome moment for Atlético and Diego Simeone, while Cristian “Cuti” Romero and Giuliano Simeone also used the occasion to strengthen their cases within the national-team picture. For Giuliano, it was a sharp late contribution rather than a long audition: he came on for Agustín Giay with 27 minutes remaining and finished the scoring with Argentina’s seventh.
Operating from the right in the closing stages, the Rome-born forward made his sole attempt on target count after Valentín Barco supplied the pass. His familiar running and aggression were evident even with the result long decided. “Pure blood and Simeone DNA,” was the assessment of his entrance, with the striker said to have attacked the match “with his teeth bared” despite the scoreline already being settled. Another verdict was equally clear: Giuliano treated the friendly as if it were still goalless, pressing relentlessly before earning his late reward.
A season of answers for Giuliano Simeone
The goal continues an upward opening to the campaign for the Atlético forward, who has faced criticism from some supporters over his place in the starting side. His response has been delivered through contribution and persistence: two goals and two assists for Atlético, averaging a goal involvement every 141 minutes, as well as two man-of-the-match awards.
The first came against Villarreal in a 2-2 draw, when he registered both a goal and an assist. The second followed at the Reale Arena against Real Sociedad, where he struck the decisive Atlético goal. His impact has extended beyond those headline moments. Against Real Madrid, he won the penalty that opened the scoring and drew the dismissal of Dean Huijsen; he was also credited with troubling Cucurella before providing a precise assist for Jonathan David to make it 2-0.
Argentina’s seven-goal evening may have arrived under unusual circumstances, with Burkina Faso depleted and delayed, but for Giuliano Simeone it offered another concise indication of a player determined to force his way into both Atlético’s plans and Argentina’s next generation.
