Atleti unstoppable
A fantastic second half display from Atletico Madrid saw them brush a side Valencia thanks to two goals from Diego and one from substitute Raul Garcia
The game got off to a fast start with both sides looking to take an early advantage. End to end stuff saw the first corner of the game awarded to the visitor after just 1 minute. The corner came to nothing but began a see saw of exchanges.
With 5 minutes on the clock the first controversial moment of the game came when Diego Costa looked to finish off a good attack for Atleti but as the ball was played to him in the area he seemed to be hurled to the floor in what looked like a nailed on penalty. The Calderon were on their feet but referee David Fernandez waved play on.
It was Costa who was always a threat for the Valencia backline and after 10 minutes he force the defence back to the goalline showing great feet to find space to square the ball but an outstretched lg of a Valencia defender stoped it reaching the target of David Villa.
With both sides creating chances it only seemed a matter of time before the opening goal came but good defending from both teams prevented the meant that they went in all square at the break.
After the interval Atletico Madrid came out firing on all cylinder as they looked to force their way in to the lead but it was a strike from Sergio Canales
50 Canales strike from distance
52. Shot fro arda rfom 25 yrds out after Villa trying to cut back to x
The break through came after 58 minutes when Atleti came out with a typical counter attack. Koke picked up the ball deep in his own half and raced towards the half way line before playing Diego Costa through with a cute pass with the outside of his foot. Costa still had a lot of work to do from 35 yards out, the number 19 showed great power and pace to breeze past the Valencia defecneand drove his shot past Diego Alves to make it 1-0 to the home side.
Straight aft the opening goal Diego Simeone took the opportunity to introduce Raul Garcia for DavidVilla and the Spanish midfielder had only been on the pitch 2 minutes when he doubled the Atleti lead smashing the ball home through a crowded penalty area to continue hi fine goal scoring run.
In the final quarter of the match Simeone’s men looked set on adding to their lead and when Diego Costa was bundled to the floor and David Fernandez didn’t think twice about awarding a penalty. Costa dusted himself off and got up to take the penalty, he struck to the keepers right but the Valencia man was equal to it denying Costa his second of the night.
With ten minute left Costa was pushed to the ground and the referee pointed to the spot for the second for the second time. After an earlier miss many would have shirked the second chance to score from the spot but not Diego Costa who bravely stepped up and this time made no mistake and powered it passed the Valencia keeper to make it 3-0.
A fantastic second half display from Atetlico Madrid as they brushed aside an improving Valencia side as the rojiblancos go joint top with Barca and extended their lead over real Madrid to 5 points.
