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Played
February 5, 2012 8:30 PM GMT
Estadio Vicente Calderón — Madrid
Referee:‬ Alberto Undiano Mallenco‎
Attendance:‬ 41000‎
 
Top of the Match
Diego Alves
Diego Alves
Valencia
Diego Alves
Diego Alves
Valencia
Flop of the Match
Albelda
Albelda
Valencia
Miguel Brito
Miguel Brito
Valencia

Atletico Madrid 0-0 Valencia: Alves and Rami shut out home side as Unai Emery's men leave the Vicente Calderon with a share of the points ahead of vital cup clash at Barcelona

In a heated contest with few chances, the visiting defence did just enough to stop Radamel Falcao and the potent home attack to earn a point ahead of Wednesday's Camp Nou clash

By Roger Gonzalez

Diego Alves, Almeria (Getty Images)
Valencia and Atletico Madrid played out a physical 0-0 draw in La Liga action on Sunday at the Vicente Calderon as Los Che custodian Diego Alves and defender Adil Rami stole the show with numerous vital stops.

Each team had their chances, but fluffed their lines throughout as fouls and cards slowed the flow of the game, with the visitors under more pressure.

The Valencia defence got to work early against Diego Simeone's men, who recorded their fifth straight clean sheet as just after eight minutes in, a cross from Juanfran on the right found Adrian in the middle of the box. The young forward managed to head an effort to the left side of the goal, but Alves pushed the ball wide.

Another 20 minutes passed until the game's next chance, when a long ball from Rami was cleared out of the Atletico box, but Pablo Piatti managed to scoop it up, volleying a shot from 20 yards out, which Thibaut Courtois did just enough to halt as he pushed wide for a corner.

The capital club would have one more chance in the opening half, when ten minutes from time, a cross from Diego was headed to the back post by Adrian, but Radamel Falcao could not get the desired touch, sending it high and wide with a sliding effort from just a yard out.

After the break, Gabi nearly put Atletico up with a volley from the top of the box off a clearance from Miguel, but his shot was pushed just wide by the visiting custodian.

With 25 minutes to go, the hosts had their best chance of the match. A run down the right by Falcao saw an initial cross from the byeline stopped by Rami, but the Colombian got another crack at it, only to see his shot hit the French defender's leg and spin just past the far post.

In the end, Emery's men managed to withstand the home attack in the dying minutes to secure a point, just days ahead of the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Barcelona. The visitors now have 37 points and remain in third place, while the hosts are in seventh with 30.

Simeone's side return to action next week against Racing Santander.


Atlético de Madrid

13
Thibaut Courtois
Goalkeeper
3.0
2
3.0
6
Filipe Luis
Defender
2.5
23
Miranda
Defender
32′
2.5
5
Tiago
Midfielder
3.0
11
Arda Turan
Midfielder
80′
2.5
14
Gabi
Midfielder
3.0
20
Juanfran
Midfielder
3.0
22
Diego Ribas
Midfielder
82′
3.0
7
Adrián
Striker
3.0
9
2.5

Valencia

3.5
1
Diego Alves
Goalkeeper
90′
3.5
4
Adil Rami
Defender
3.0
17
Jordi Alba
Midfielder
2.5
18
Víctor Ruiz
Defender
16′
3.0
22
2.5
23
Miguel Brito
Defender
2.0
6
Albelda
Midfielder
45′
2.5
19
Pablo Hernández
Midfielder
2.5
24
Tino Costa
Midfielder
2.5
9
3.0
14
Pablo Piatti
Striker
69′

Substitutes

25
Sergio Asenjo
Goalkeeper
-
18
3.0
21
-
4
Mario Suárez
Midfielder
-
8
Toto Salvio
Striker
80′
-
19
Koke
Midfielder
82′
-
31
Pizzi
Striker
-

Substitutes

-
13
Guaita
Goalkeeper
-
12
Barragán
Defender
-
15
Dealbert
Defender
-
10
Ever Banega
Midfielder
-
28
Juan Bernat
Midfielder
83′
3.0
7
Jonas
Striker
69′
2.5
11

Coach/Manager

-
-

Coach/Manager

-
-
Unai Emery
Coach
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona
50 10
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid
46 12
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atlético Madrid
24 5
Gonzalo Higuaín Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker
Real Madrid
22 0
Karim Benzema Karim Benzema
Striker
Real Madrid
21 0