Atlético Madrid is heading into the Madrid derby with renewed hope, thanks to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano, fueled by a hat-trick from Julián Álvarez. The Argentinian striker's performance has not only secured a vital win for his team but has also boosted their morale ahead of the highly anticipated clash against Real Madrid.

Álvarez's heroics came at a crucial time for Atlético, who were in danger of falling further behind in the league standings. Before Álvarez's late goals, a defeat would have left Diego Simeone's side trailing the top of the table by a significant margin. The win, however, has injected a new sense of optimism into the team and its supporters.

The match against Rayo Vallecano was a rollercoaster ride for Atlético. Álvarez opened the scoring in the 14th minute with an excellent finish. However, Rayo Vallecano fought back, with Josep Chavarria equalizing before halftime and Alvaro Garcia putting the visitors ahead in the 76th minute. It appeared that Atlético was headed for another disappointing result, but Álvarez had other plans.

In the dying minutes of the game, Álvarez scored two more goals to complete his hat-trick and secure the victory for Atlético. His second goal came after Augusto Batalla spilled a cross into his path, and he sealed the win with a thunderous effort from distance in the 88th minute.

Álvarez's performance has drawn high praise from his coach, Diego Simeone, who hailed him as the team's best player. Simeone emphasized Álvarez's importance to the team and expressed his desire to keep him at the club for many years. "Alvarez is very good, he's the best player we have," Simeone said. "We have to look after him and help him get better. He is the player who makes the difference for us, and we need him here for many years".

Álvarez himself admitted to feeling frustrated after being substituted in a previous match. He clarified that his frustration was directed at himself and not at the coach, dismissing reports of tension between him and Simeone.

The victory over Rayo Vallecano has lifted Atlético to eighth place in the La Liga standings. More importantly, it has provided them with a much-needed confidence boost before facing their city rivals, Real Madrid.

Real Madrid currently leads the table with maximum points from six games. Atlético will be looking to end their rivals' winning streak and close the gap at the top. Julián Álvarez has already fired a warning shot to Real Madrid, stating, "We will do everything to take the 3 points from Real Madrid".

The Madrid derby promises to be an exciting encounter, with Atlético seeking to capitalize on their newfound momentum and Álvarez aiming to continue his impressive form.