Raúl García, golden goal at Mestalla
Indisputable triumph for Atlético de Madrid at Mestalla against a Valencia that made it hard, but couldn’t break the League’s best defence. Giant step of the leader.
Valencia: Guaita; Joao Pereira, Ricardo Costa, Matthieu, Gayá; Javi Fuego, Parejo (Vargas, 53’); Barragán (Feghouli, 62’), Jonás (Cartabia, 82’), Piatti; and Alcácer.
Atlético de Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luis; Raúl García (Sosa, 68’)(Alderweireld, 92’), Gabi, Tiago, Koke; Villa (Arda Turan, 58’) and Diego Costa.
Referee: Undiano Mallenco (Committee of Navarra). Red card for Juanfran (91’). Booked the locals Jonás (36’), Javi Fuego (85’), Vargas (89’); and the visiting Godín (70’).
THE GOAL:
0-1. 42’. Raúl García headed-in a midfield shot from Gabi at Guaita’s exit.
Atlético de Madrid won Valencia by the minimum at Mestalla and achieved their objective. Three more points to keep on track towards the objective. They overtake their best historical result in the League and only three more stops are left to the end of the Championship. On Sunday in Valencia against Levante, then against Málaga at the Calderón and the last one at Camp Nou against Barcelona.
The fixture started with lots of excitement, both teams were very tense and with more possession of the ball from the local team, although with few scoring opportunities. The first one was for Alcácer, but his shot in the first minute of the game was safely out. The response came was fast and Villa aimed for the left of Guaita’s goal and his shot almost surprised Valencia’s goalkeeper.
After a phase where Valencia wanted to but couldn’t hurt a sturdy and solid Atlético de Madrid, Koke gave a warning with a shot from the front that got lost over the woodwork. It was the prelude of the first goal of the match. On minute 42, a measured centre from Gabi to Raúl García’s head, the player from Navarra turned just enough to deflect and send to the net, overcoming Guaita’s stretch.
In the second half, Valencia gave their all in search of the drawing goal, but found a leader who wouldn’t budge an inch, and was furthermore supported by the large amount of Atlético fans who had travelled to Mestalla. The team put their “working clothes” on was able to keep the advantage obtained in the first half with attitude, endurance and a spectacular defence. There was only a difficult moment in the second act with a shot from Jonás saved by Filipe.
On the other hand, Guaita was Valencia’s hero, saving two one on ones from Diego Costa, that could have increased Atlético’s advantage. A step further, another final achieved and 88 points that beat our best score, the 87 of the 95-96 season, the one of the double. Now, back to thinking about Stamford Bridge and another final against Chelsea.
