The Argentine striker provided the assist for Giuliano Simeone to put Atletico Madrid ahead, but his performance was also marked by two missed one-on-one chances against Joan García. Despite those opportunities going begging, Simeone never seriously considered taking him off.
Álvarez completed the full 90 minutes as Atlético eventually lost to Barcelona, with the coach making four of his five available substitutions.
Footage from Movistar+'s El Día Después revealed a conversation between Simeone and his assistant Gabi during the second half, as the Atlético coaching staff discussed how to reorganise the team.
The manager was considering a tactical adjustment that would bring Alexander Sørloth alongside Álvarez, before Jonathan David was also introduced to create an attacking trio.
The change would move Álvarez towards the left side of the attack, rather than removing him from the contest.
Gabi asked the coach directly whether the forward would be substituted.
"Is Julián staying?" the former Atlético captain asked.
"Julián is not coming off," Simeone replied.
The decision was significant because Álvarez had already missed two clear chances, either of which could have changed the outcome of the match. Yet Simeone remained convinced that his striker could still influence the game, even if his finishing had let him down.
The coach's confidence was not simply a matter of leaving a leading player on the pitch. His tactical changes showed that he was prepared to alter the forward's position and bring additional attacking options around him rather than sacrifice him.
Álvarez was therefore asked to contribute from a wider role as Atlético sought to maintain their attacking threat. His ability to link play and create opportunities remained important to Simeone, even on a night when the striker could not find the net.
After the match, the Atlético coach again defended his performance and emphasised the importance of keeping faith with the forward.
"He played an important match. He was involved in three chances, as well as the assist for Giuliano. What more can we ask of him?" Simeone said.
"Of course, we would all have liked him to have scored that goal, but we will wait for him. We need him. If we want to reach where we want to go, we need him. Otherwise, we won't get there."
Those comments reinforced the message delivered in the technical area. Simeone believes Álvarez remains essential to Atlético's ambitions and is prepared to give him the responsibility of leading the attack through a difficult spell.
The striker's contribution against Barcelona was not limited to his missed opportunities. His assist for Giuliano demonstrated the creative qualities that make him so important to the coach's plans.
Simeone also showed that he was willing to adapt the team's attacking structure to accommodate him, introducing Sørloth and Jonathan David while keeping Álvarez involved until the final whistle.
The manager's decision may attract attention given the chances the forward failed to convert, but his public defence left little doubt about his position.
For Simeone, Álvarez is not a player to be discarded after a frustrating performance. He remains central to Atlético's plans, and the coach believes that continued trust will help him rediscover the finishing touch required to turn opportunities into goals.