Valencia Stun Atletico Madrid

Valencia Stun Atletico Madrid

Saturday, October 4, 2014 5:53 pm


Three goals in the opening quarter of an hour helped Valencia to a dramatic 3-1 win at home to Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in a Primera Liga match on Saturday.

Valencia took a sixth minute lead in a moment of tragic defending from Atletico’s Miranda, who headed a long ball from Antonio Barragan into the net under no pressure from the opposition.

It went from bad to worse within a minute for Atletico, as André Gomes made it 2-0 for Valencia after getting past three defenders before scoring with a well struck effort from a tight angle.

A nightmarish start for Atletico was completed after 13 minutes through Nicolas Otamendi who was left unmarked to head home a Pablo Piatti cornerkick.

Valencia’s electric start to the match subsided however after Mario Mandzukic pulled a goal back for Atletico just before the half-hour mark, heading home a rebound after the Valencia goalkeeper kept out a long range effort from Tiago.

The goal spurred Atletico into the match as the champions desperately sought a way back and they got a chance to pull further closer when Jose Gaya was adjudged to have handled in the area just before half-time.

But Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves eaaily saved Guilherme Siqueira’s tame effort from the resulting penalty kick as Valencia went into the break 3-1 up.

Atletico maintained its search for a way back but Mandzukic saw an effort from the edge of the area pushed away by Alves while substitute Alessio Cerci had a late goal ruled out for handball, getting a second yellow card as a result.

The stunning win at the Mestella saw Valencia go top of the Spanish top flight with 17 points, ahead of Barcelona that play at Rayo Vallecano later this evening, while Atletico remain third at the moment following a first league defeat of the season.


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