In Enschede, Ángel Alarcón supplied the finishing touch Utrecht needed to turn a difficult Eredivisie afternoon into a significant 2-1 victory over Twente. The 22-year-old winger, developed at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, struck twice after the interval as Utrecht recovered from a goal down and claimed a third win in four matches.
Twente had put Utrecht under pressure in a contest with the league’s second place in view, but Alarcón’s quality changed the course of the match. His double also helped soften the impact of Utrecht’s troubled start to the campaign.
Quick facts
- Twente 1-2 Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
- Daouda Weidmann scored first, in the 28th minute.
- Ángel Alarcón equalised in the 47th minute and scored again in the 63rd.
- Alarcón has scored in consecutive league matches, after also netting against Willem II.
- Utrecht hold 50% of his rights after paying €2 million, while Porto and Barcelona retain 25% each.
Daouda Weidmann gave Twente the lead after 28 minutes, leaving Utrecht with work to do after the break. Alarcón answered two minutes into the second half, firing in after Arthur Zagré’s back-heel had created the opening.
The winner arrived in the 63rd minute on a swift Utrecht counterattack. Alarcón collected the ball at the left edge of the area, moved beyond the defender attempting to close him down and bent his finish inside the far post.
It was another decisive contribution from the former Barcelona player, who had also found the net in Utrecht’s previous 3-1 win over Willem II. On that occasion, he completed the scoring in the 92nd minute.
Alarcón made his Barcelona first-team debut under Xavi Hernández, now the Netherlands national-team coach. After leaving Catalonia for Porto, the attacker joined Utrecht on loan during last season’s winter transfer window.
His performances persuaded Utrecht to activate their purchase clause for half of his economic rights, paying €2 million and agreeing a contract running until June 2029. Porto and Barcelona each retain a 25% share, leaving the Spanish club in line for a portion of any future transfer fee.
