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Played
February 5, 2012 3:30 PM EST
Estadio Vicente Calderón — Madrid
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco
Attendance: 41000
February 5, 2012 3:30 PM EST
Estadio Vicente Calderón — Madrid
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco
Attendance: 41000
Top of the Match
Diego Alves
Valencia
Valencia
Diego Alves
Valencia
Valencia
Flop of the Match
Albelda
Valencia
Valencia
Miguel Brito
Valencia
Valencia
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Atletico Madrid 0-0 Valencia: Alves and Rami shut out home side
In a heated contest with few chances, the visiting defense 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
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 its chances, but fluffed its lines throughout as fouls and cards slowed the flow of the game, with the visitors under more pressure.
The Valencia defense got to work early against Diego Simeone's men, who recorded their fifth straight clean sheet. 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. 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 10 minutes from time a cross from Diego was headed to the back post by Adrian. 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 home side had its best chance of the match. A run down the right by Falcao saw an initial cross from the line stopped by Rami. 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 the Copa del Rey semifinal with Barcelona. The visitors now have 37 points and remain in third place, while the home side is in seventh with 30.
Simeone's side returns to action next week against Racing Santander.
Each team had its chances, but fluffed its lines throughout as fouls and cards slowed the flow of the game, with the visitors under more pressure.
The Valencia defense got to work early against Diego Simeone's men, who recorded their fifth straight clean sheet. 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. 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 10 minutes from time a cross from Diego was headed to the back post by Adrian. 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 home side had its best chance of the match. A run down the right by Falcao saw an initial cross from the line stopped by Rami. 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 the Copa del Rey semifinal with Barcelona. The visitors now have 37 points and remain in third place, while the home side is in seventh with 30.
Simeone's side returns to action next week against Racing Santander.
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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
Times In EST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
50 | 10 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
46 | 12 |
|
Radamel Falcao
Striker Atlético de Madrid |
24 | 5 |
|
Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker Real Madrid |
22 | 0 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
21 | 0 |