MADRID -- Diego Simeone says Atlético Madrid will give Julián Álvarez time to re-discover his best form after the striker missed a string of chances in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Barcelona at the Metropolitano.
Álvarez set up the opening goal for Giuliano Simeone but couldn't convert his own opportunities as two Fermín López strikes earned victory for the side the Argentina forward wanted to join in the summer.
This was the first time Atlético have faced Barça since Álvarez revealed he wanted to leave in June, something he has since apologised to the club's supporters for.
"Julián had a good game," Atlético coach Simeone said in the post-match news conference. "As well as the chances he had, he was also involved in several other attacking moves.
"On top of setting up Giuliano's goal, he also delivered a cross for [an Alex] Baena [chance]. We all wanted him to get that goal, but we'll be patient with him because he's a great player.
"We love him and, if we're going to achieve what we want to achieve, we need Julián at his best -- otherwise we won't get there."
Álvarez was jeered by Atlético supporters at the start of the season for trying to engineer a move to Barça.
As a result, Simeone managed his minutes more carefully at times, but he has now started Atlético's last five games in all competitions, scoring twice.
His misses against Barça were in contrast to Fermín's finishing. The midfielder took both of his goals really well as the Catalan side ensured they go into the international break as league leaders.
"It was an extraordinary performance," Simeone added, despite the loss. "I cannot fault the players. It was the game we wanted to play, pressing well in the first half with good intensity.
"On this occasion, we were not as clinical as we have been on other days. Barça are very good in that sense. They had fewer clear chances, but were clinical with the ones they had."
In an action-packed start to the game, Álvarez wasted a on- on-one with Joan García and Marc Pubill and Pedri hit woodwork at either end before Simeone opened the scoring in the 10th minute.
Álvarez saw another effort saved by García as Atlético pushed for a second but they were caught cold by Fermín's strike just before the break.
"The 1-1 was very important before half time," Barça coach Hansi Flick said in the post-match news conference.
"In the first half, we were too far from the opponent, so it wasn't easy to get pressure on the ball. They always switched [play on] us; this is what we made much better in the second half."
The introduction of Frenkie de Jong helped Barça improve, although Álvarez still had more chances, lifting a lob on to the roof of the net and having another shot deflected over.
Fermín was not so wasteful, finishing brilliantly to seal the points in the 66th minute after latching on to a brilliant Lamine Yamal pass.
"You play 90 minutes," Flick added. "The first half was not so perfect. The second half was good and we deserve this win. I am happy."
Back-to-back defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid last month had raised questions about Barça's ability to beat better opposition.
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"We have the quality to win these matches," Flick insisted. "It's not about that. I totally believe in this team. Especially in the second half we did a great job.
"It's not easy to win here. It's a long way to the end of the season. We are here, we are working every day to win titles, to have success. This is what we want."
The victory was Barça's 11th in 12 LaLiga games gives them a three point cushion over second placed Real Madrid.
Atlético, meanwhile, drop to third in the table, five points back after their seven-game winning streak in the league came to and end.
"From 1-10?," Flick responded when asked how important it was to remain top going into the international break. "10."
