Valencia CF visited Atletico Madrid after the international break on Sunday, the 15th of September, for a 9 p.m. kick-off at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on Matchday 5 of LaLiga EA Sports.

Valencia CF had a quiet start to the game, with some defending to do in the early stages, while the home side tried to take control. Atletico Madrid penned back a resolute Valencia CF, who struggled to find their footing.

Halfway through the first half, Valencia CF fought defensively, showing resilience to withstand the waves of Atletico Madrid’s attacks. However, Conor Gallagher made it 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in the closing stages of the first half at the Civitas Metropolitano.

Valencia CF trailed 1-0 to Atletico Madrid at the intermission in the Spanish capital.

At halftime, Rubén Baraja made a substitution, bringing on Valencia CF’s deadline day recruit, Enzo Barrenchea, to replace Hugo Guillamón in midfield. This marked Barrenchea’s LaLiga debut for Valencia CF.

In the second half, Valencia CF came out looking to equalise, with Javi Guerra as the main outlet. He attempted to trouble Jan Oblak with a long-range effort, which went narrowly off target in the opening minutes of the second stanza.

Alas, shortly after, Valencia CF were dealt another blow when Antoine Griezmann made it 2-0 to Atletico Madrid.

Valencia CF enjoyed plenty of possession after Atletico Madrid’s second goal, but they struggled to create any real danger in the final third. The game also saw the introduction of another deadline-day signing, Germán Valera.

Julián Álvarez made it 3-0 with the last kick of the game and Valencia CF fell to a 3-0 away loss to Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano.

Valencia CF will next welcome Girona CF on Saturday, September 21st, at 6:30 p.m. at Mestalla for Matchday 6 of LaLiga EA Sports, where they will face another must-win game at home. 

MATCH  SHEET

3. ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Azpilicueta (Reinildo, 76'), Samuel Lino (R. Riquelme, 67'), Koke, De Paul (Correa, 60'), Gallagher, Griezmann (Simeone, 76') and Sorloth (Julián Álvarez, 60').

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Foulquier (Jesús Vázquez, 70‘), Tárrega, Cristhian Mosquera, Thierry R, Hugo Guillamón (Enzo Barrenechea, 46’), Pepelu, Diego López, Luis Rioja (S. C. Tenés, 70‘), Javi Guerra (Germán Valera, 79’) and Dani Gómez (Martín Tejón, 79').

GOALS: 1-0 Gallagher, 39‘: 2-0 Griezmann, 54’: 3-0 J. Alvárez, 94': 3-0 J. Alvárez, 94

REFEREE: César Soto Grado. Yellow cards for César Tárrega, Koke, Hugo Guillamón.

VAR: Daniel Jesús Trujillo Suárez.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 5 of the EA Sports LALIGA played at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano.