Match Report: Away loss to Atletico Madrid (3-0)

Valencia CF visited Atletico Madrid on Saturday 18th of March at 9 pm kick-off time on Matchday 26 of LaLiga at the Cívitas Metroplitano in the club’s 104th year anniversary at the height of the Fallas festivities.    

Valencia CF had a positive, solid and composed start to the game by being really disciplined and organised in the opening minutes of the first half at the Civitas Metropolitano in the Spanish capital.  

Giorgi Mamarsdashvili produced heroics to deny Memphis Depay from close range with a superb stop to keep the scoreline at 0-0. Alas, just two minutes later, Antoine Griezman made it 1-0 to Atletico Madrid halfway through the first half. 

Hugo Duro thought to have scored following an inch–perfect ball over the top which Hugo Duro stabbed home past Jan Oblak. However, after a lengthy VAR review over the half-hour mark, the goal was ruled out for a fortuitous foul on Memphis Depay in the build-up.  

Valencia CF refused to back down and upped the intensity going forward looking for an equaliser in the closing stages of the first half.    

 Valencia CF trailed Atletico Madrid by 1-0 at the Interval.

Valencia CF had a poor start to the second half when Yannick Carrasco made it 2-0 to Atletico Madrid just four minutes inside the second stanza.  

Valencia CF tried to get a foothold in the game just under the hour mark. Alas, Tomas Lemar made it 3-0 at the midway point of the second half at the Cívitas Metropolitano much to Valencia CF’s dismay.  

Rubén Baraja shuffled his pack bringing on André Almeida and Edinson Cavani for Hugo Duro and Nico González.

Samuel Lino hit the upright moments later as Valencia CF tried to reduce the three-goal deficit in the closing moments of the second half, but the scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF fell to a 3-0 away loss. 

Valencia CF will welcome Rayo Vallecano Madrileño on Monday the 3rd of April at 9 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 26 of LaLiga.  

MATCH SHEET:

3. ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak, Molina, Savic, Giménez, Mario Hermoso, Carrasco (Correa, 70'), Marcos Llorente (Barrios, 70'), Koke (Witsel, 77'), De Paul (Lemar, 64'), Griezmann and Memphis Depay (Morata, 64').

0. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Cömert, Cenk, Gayà, Hugo Guillamón, Nico (André Almeida, 71'), Yunus Musah (Ilaix Moriba, 63'), Thierry R. (Samuel Lino, 63'), Justin Kluivert (Samu Castillejo, 77') and Hugo Duro (Cavani, 71').

GOALS: 1-0 Griezmann, 23'; 2-0 Carrasco, 49'; 3-0 Lemar, 69'.

REFEREE: Munuera Montero (Andalusian C.). Yellow cards for Griezmann, Marcos Llorente.

VAR: Medié Jiménez (C. Catalan).

OBSERVATIONS: LaLiga matchday 26 played at the Cívitas Metropolitano stadium.