At a Glance:
Piero Hincapie praised Julian Alvarez.
Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal: Champions League semi-final first leg.
Hincapie and Alvarez’s head-to-head.
Piero Hincapie has revealed how he feels about Julian Alvarez as a player after having played against him on two instances for Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal are interested in signing Alvarez and as a result, Mikel Arteta will be aware of how much of a threat the star striker can be.
Hincapie and his Gunners teammates will have to be at their impregnable best to keep the Argentine quiet, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions this campaign.
William Saliba and Gabriel Maglahaes will be key against Atletico Madrid in particular to ensure that the World Cup winner has an off day.
Piero Hincapie praises Julian Alvarez ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal
Hincapie was full of praise for Alvarez while speaking to Spanish outlet Diario AS, as the defender recounted his experience of locking horns with the Atletico Madrid marksman.
“Julian is an incredible player, truly. He has many qualities, he moves all over the pitch, he’s a very physical and technical player, and also very intelligent.
The Arsenal left-back pinpointed how the two-time Premier League winner is not just a goalscorer but also a player who is technically gifted, smart and blessed with astute movement.
“I think he’s a fantastic player, but I don’t know if his playing time will affect us. We just have to see what kind of team Atletico fields and counter them.”
While Alvarez could hurt Arsenal, he is yet to so far, having failed to score against them in five appearances.
Julian Alvarez’s record vs Arsenal Stats
Appearances 5
Goals 0
Assists 0
All statistics via Transfermarkt – correct as of 28/04/2026
Out of these fives games, the decorated goalscorer has only started in two.
Julian Alvarez record vs Piero Hincapie
The Gunners have played against some of the most lethal attackers in the world this campaign such as Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah to name a few.
As a result, Arsenal will embrace the challenge of facing Alvarez, as will Hincapie himself.
Julian Alvarez’s record vs Piero Hincapie Stats
Matches 2
Goals 2
Wins 1
Draws 1
Losses 0
All statistics correct as of 28/04/2026
Interestingly, Hincapie scored for Leverkusen in their 2-1 defeat against Atletico Madrid last season.
The Ecuadorian will be keen to contribute in a similar manner while beating Alvarez and Co this time around.
Srinivas Sadhanand
Srinivas Sadhanand is a writer for Read Arsenal and Read Man City, with over eight years of experience as a sports journalist. He has worked for established companies such as GRV Media, The Economic Times, Urban Pitch and Sportskeeda among several others. From interview athletes to writing detailed tactical pieces and covering the impact streetwear and music in football, he has many strings to his bow as a journalist. Being a lifelong Manchester City fan, he specialises in writing about them and the Premier League in particular. Away from the desk, he loves watching European football, cricket, films, listening to music and exploring new foods.
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