Valencia did good business in the Spanish league on Saturday. The team of coach Rubén Baraja played a good match and already had a 2-0 lead at halftime, thanks to a double by striker Hugo Duro. After the break, things got even worse for Diego Simeone’s team. Javi Guerra set the final score at 0-3. Valencia currently climbs to fifth place, while Atléti plummets to seventh position.
After the convincing 0-7 victory against Rayo Vallecano, Atlético Madrid had to find a replacement for Memphis Depay before the international break. The Dutchman, who scored the 0-2 himself, was then forced to leave the field due to an injury. Diego Simeone made five substitutions in total. Álvaro Morata replaced Depay, where Marcos Llorente, Thomas Lemar, César Azpilicueta and Rodrigo Riquelme were also assigned a starting spot.
DURO! Of ??’?? ????????????! ?? Hugo Duro makes Mestalla roar again with his second goal against the great Atleti! ?? Will the Madrid people recover from this?#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #ValenciaAtleti pic.twitter.com/hoLq0jOg5U
— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 16, 2023
The team from the the Dutch city managed to open the score within five minutes. A cross from Sergi Canós was touched by Stefan Savic and ended up at the feet of Duro, who neatly slotted it in from an awkward angle: 1-0. The same Canos took a hard shot moments later, but his effort was with difficulty parried by Jan Oblak. Ten minutes before half-time, the home team doubled their lead.
This time too, the goal was scored by Duro. The 23-year-old Spaniard received a simple through ball from Fran Perez, after the latter managed to take the ball with some fortune, saved Savic beautifully and shot the ball behind the outbound Oblak: 0-2. Simeone intervened at halftime. Savic and Riquelme remained in the dressing room and were replaced by the Argentinians Nahuel Molina and Ángel Correa.
What a ?????????? ?? Valencia continues what they were doing: ????????????! Talent Javi Guerra increases the lead with ??-?? ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #ValenciaAtleti pic.twitter.com/BfN8CxxeQY
— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 16, 2023
However, to no avail. Although Atléti performed a lot better in the second half and also created a few chances to score, it was the home team that made the Estadio Mestalla cheer once again. Guerra started a dribble, very subtly sent his man into the woods and took a shot from distance. The ball ended beautifully in the right corner, behind Oblak, who was far from his goal: 3-0. In the absolute final phase, Pepelu spared Atléti by not taking advantage of an opportunity.
| No. | Team | M | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Athletic Club | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | Girona | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| 4 | Barcelona | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 5 | Rayo Vallecano | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 9 |
| 6 | Atlético Madrid | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 7 |
| 7 | Real Betis | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Cadiz | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 7 |
| 9 | Real Sociedad | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 10 | Osasuna | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 11 | Alaves | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 6 |
| 12 | Valencia | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 13 | Celta de Vigo | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| 14 | Getafe | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 4 |
| 15 | Villarreal | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 3 |
| 16 | Granada | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 3 |
| 17 | Real Mallorca | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
| 18 | Las Palmas | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
| 19 | Almeria | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 1 |
| 20 | Seville | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |