Valencia v Atlético Madrid Live Commentary & Result, 14/02/2020, Primera División

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	RMA Real Madrid	38	26	9	3	70	25	+45	87	D W W W W
2	BAR Barcelona	38	25	7	6	86	38	+48	82	W L W W W
3	ATM Atlético Madrid	38	18	16	4	51	27	+24	70	D W W D W
4	SEV Sevilla	38	19	13	6	54	34	+20	70	W D W W W
5	VIL Villarreal	38	18	6	14	63	49	+14	60	W L L W L
6	RSO Real Sociedad	38	16	8	14	56	48	+8	56	D D W L D
7	GRA Granada	38	16	8	14	52	45	+7	56	W W L W D
8	GET Getafe	38	14	12	12	43	37	+6	54	L L D L D
9	VAL Valencia	38	14	11	13	46	53	-7	53	L W L W D
10	OSA Osasuna	38	13	13	12	46	54	-8	52	D W W L D
11	ATH Athletic Club	38	13	12	13	41	38	+3	51	L L W L L
12	LEV Levante	38	14	7	17	47	53	-6	49	W W L L D
13	VLD Real Valladolid	38	9	15	14	32	43	-11	42	W L L L W
14	EIB Eibar	38	11	9	18	39	56	-17	42	L W W D L
15	BET Real Betis	38	10	11	17	48	60	-12	41	L L L W D
16	ALA Deportivo Alavés	38	10	9	19	34	59	-25	39	L W D L L
17	CEL Celta de Vigo	38	7	16	15	37	49	-12	37	D L L D D
18	LEG Leganés	38	8	12	18	30	51	-21	36	D W W D W
19	MLL Mallorca	38	9	6	23	40	65	-25	33	D L L W L
20	ESP Espanyol	38	5	10	23	27	58	-31	25	D L L L L

That's all for today's live coverage. Thanks for joining!

Fourth-place Atletico remain two points and two places above Valencia in the LaLiga standings. Next up for Simeone's men is the visit of Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, while Valencia head to Atalanta the following day.

Valencia and Atletico Madrid play out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Mestalla. Llorente converted from close range to give Atleti the lead, only for Gabriel to head in an equaliser 25 minutes later. The visitors responded instantly through Thomas' strike from range - their first league goal from outside the box this term - but Kondogbia capitalised on some slack defending to level up just before the hour mark. Both teams had chances to win the game late on, though it ended all square.

90' + 5' FULL-TIME: VALENCIA 2-2 ATLETICO

M. Diakhaby

Gabriel Paulista

90' + 4' The injured Gabriel is replaced by Diakhaby late on.

90' + 3' Gabriel lands awkwardly and is in need of some treatment. Only three minutes were added on so that may well be that.

90' + 2' CLOSE! Gaya is getting himself into some good positions. He is picked out at the back post and, despite the angle being against him, sends a dipping volley back across goal and inches wide of the target.

90' OBLAK MAKES THE SAVE! Parejo's corner is parried to the edge of the box. Gaya puts his boot through the ball and Oblak reacts brilliantly to push it over the crossbar.

88' Atletico are nicely set up for the counter. They win the ball on the edge of their own box and it goes long towards Morata, but Gabriel watches it all the way and calmly heads it clear.

87' Valencia build some momentum and work the ball to Wass on the right, but his cross is horribly miscued behind for a goal-kick. That should give Atletico a chance to regroup for one final push.

85' SHOT! Both teams are going all out attack for a winner, setting up a thrilling finale at the Mestalla. The ball runs loose for Thomas, whose first-time shot outside the box flashes wide of the target.

83' HIGH AND WIDE! Yet another glorious chance for Valencia to win it! Gomez is picked out in an unmarked position but is unable to find the target with his shot.

82' NEARLY! Atletico have been second best in the second half but they could easily have snatched the win here. Morata meets Vrsaljko's cross at the back post and his header is parried by Domenech. Valencia fail to clear the ball and Thomas drills a half-volley wide from a long way out.

D. Cheryshev

Carlos Soler

80' Cheryshev comes on for Soler as Valencia go in search of a late winner.

M. Gómez

Yellow Card

79' Gomez fouls Thomas and becomes the latest player to be shown a yellow card.

79' The hosts have slowed the tempo a little over the past couple of minutes. They are now patiently looking to find a way through the Atletico defence, with their opponents on the ropes. What a huge final 10 minutes we are in store for!

Y. Carrasco

Koke

76' Simeone makes his third and final change - and not a moment too soon. Carrasco takes over from Koke.

75' Atletico win a corner off Kondogbia to temporarily relieve some of the growing pressure.

74' HUGE CHANCE FOR GAMEIRO! Torres flicks the ball in behind Saul and picks out Gameiro around eight yards out. The Valencia striker is left all alone but lifts his shot over the crossbar.

72' Simeone is shown a yellow card by referee David Medie Jimenez, seemingly for accusing Parejo of going to ground too easily under minimal contact from Morata.

70' Despite Simeone's changes, Atletico are really struggling to get the ball out of their own half. Saul concedes a corner, Parejo delivers it into the middle and it is an Atleti head that gets to it first.

68' It has been all Valencia since they equalised around 10 minutes ago. They work the ball well, but a vital interception in the box prevents Torres from rounding off the move.

E. Mangala

Yellow Card

67' Mangala is cautioned for a challenge on Vitolo.

Álvaro Morata

S. Arias

66' Morata is on and Arias off in Atletico's second change. It will likely mean a tweak in formation, too.

64' Valencia are starting to turn the screw a little. The ball goes behind off Felipe for a corner, which ultimately comes to nothing. Simeone is down on the touchline barking out instructions.

62' SHOT! Thomas responded instantly for Atletico late in the first half and he tries to do likewise here, but he cannot keep his latest attempt on target. This is turning into a great contest, with both teams really going for it.

K. Gameiro

Gonçalo Guedes

60' Gameiro is on for Guedes as Simeone turns to his bench for the first time today.

Dani Parejo

Assist

59' Parejo's free-kick from deep really was delightful. It was crying out to be attacked, though Simeone will wonder how Kondogbia was left all alone to convert.

G. Kondogbia

Goal

59' GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!! VALENCIA 2-2 ATLETICO!!!! Parejo floats a delightful free-kick into the penalty box and Kondogbia guides it past Oblak. The midfielder got away from Llorente and, despite miscuing his initial attempt, it went in off his other leg. Simeone will be fuming at his side's defending!

Š. Vrsaljko

Yellow Card

58' Vrsaljko catches Soler with a stray arm and enters the referee's book. This match is threatening to boil over.

57' Thomas Partey's goal was Atletico Madrid's first from outside the box in LaLiga this season. Premier League duo Watford and Crystal Palace are now the only teams yet to have scored from more than 18 yards out in Europe's top five leagues in 2019-20.

Gabriel Paulista

Yellow Card

55' Guedes' shot from outside the box deflects off Arias for a corner. Valencia wanted a free-kick and Gabriel is booked for his protests.

Š. Vrsaljko

Renan Lodi

53' Lodi is replaced by fellow full-back Vrsaljko in Atletico's first change of the contest.

52' Torres makes good inroads down the right and his dangerous cross towards the front post is headed into the air and behind by Felipe. The set-piece comes to little.

50' Correa steals the ball off Parejo and attempts to work a shooting position in the box, but Gabriel gets across to cut out the danger and bail out his team-mate. Correa wants a penalty but he appeared to simply be off-balance.

48' Atletico win a throw-in high up the pitch and take a fair bit of time over it - that may be a sign of things to come. A free-kick is conceded and Valencia look to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.

46' RESTART! Atletico Madrid get us back under way at the Mestalla. Can Simeone's men keep hold of their one-goal advantage?

Bar a five-minute spell in the lead up to Valencia's equaliser, Atletico were the side on top in the first half. Simeone will argue his side are good value for their lead and he has the likes of Morata, Carrasco and Lemar among his subs. As for Celades, he can turn to attacking options Cheryshev, Sobrino, Lee or Gameiro for the start of the second half should he wish.

Atletico Madrid take a 2-1 lead into half-time thanks to goals from Llorente and Thomas, either side of Gabriel's temporary equaliser. Llorente prodded in from close range after Correa's mishit shot deflected into his path, but Gabriel headed in Gomez's cross to level things up at the Mestalla. Atletico restored their lead 144 seconds later, though, thanks to an impressive drive from Thomas after the midfielder turned over possession and carried the ball forward.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: VALENCIA 1-2 ATLETICO

45' One minute has been added on at the end of this lively first half at the Mestalla. Atletico have learned their lesson from a little earlier and have got bodies back behind the ball.

T. Partey

Goal

43' GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! VALENCIA 1-2 ATLETICO!!!! Just like that, the visitors are back in front! Thomas turns over possession and charges towards the opposition box. He pulls the trigger from around 20 yards and picks out the bottom-left corner with a fine finish.

41' It will be interesting to see how Simeone's men respond to that setback. Valencia enjoyed a five-minute spell on top leading up to the equaliser.

M. Gómez

Assist

40' Gomez did very well to control the ball and then pick out a team-mate in front of goal with a pass on the half-volley.

Gabriel Paulista

Goal

40' GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!! VALENCIA 1-1 ATLETICO!!! Gomez chests down a corner and fires a cross into the six-yard box, where Gabriel - who perhaps could have done better to prevent Atletico's opening goal - is waiting to head in an equaliser.

39' Valencia are building some steady pressure now as we approach the end of the first half. Atletico are being pushed back and the hosts have another corner.

37' Mangala is penalised for climbing on Thomas when trying to get on the end of a corner. The ball is thumped in through a sea of bodies but the whistle had sounded a second or two beforehand.

35' Llorente bursts down the right and thinks he has got away from Gaya, but the Valencia left-back produces a brilliant challenge just outside the box to win back the ball.

33' Gaya exchanges passes with Soler down the left and finds himself in some space in the opposition penalty area. His out-swinging cross into the six-yard box is well gathered by Oblak, who has not had a great deal to do so far.

31' This game has an edge to it now, with the home side feeling aggrieved with a number of decisions. There have been plenty of challenges and it has been a pretty evenly-matched contest on the whole as we fast approach half-time.

29' The ball definitely hit Lodi on the thigh, rather than the arm - correct call from the officials.

28' Soler climbs highest to meet the free-kick but cannot direct his header on target. Gabriel fires the ball back into the centre but it is cut out at the near post. Valencia then have a weak penalty shout for handball turned down.

Renan Lodi

Yellow Card

26' Lodi catches Wass when attempting to block a cross from the right and is shown the first yellow card of the game.

25' Atleti's high pressing is causing Valencia plenty of problems at the back. The ball runs loose on the edge of the home side's box but it is eventually cleared away.

23' Valencia are upset with a number of decisions that have gone against them, this latest one for Gomez's shove on Felipe when attempting to win an aerial ball. From their next attack, Soler misplaces a simple pass to gift Atletico possession.

21' Atletico are constantly looking for the quick pass in behind. The game has become a little stretched over the past couple of minutes, but the visitors are still relatively comfortable.

19' Valencia are struggling to find a way through the Atletico defence. The home side are seeing a lot more of the ball since falling behind but are not doing a great deal with it.

17' Valencia's players felt Vitolo was marginally offside before helping to set up Llorente for the opener, but the officials disagree and the goal stands. Gabriel should have done better to cut out the pass.

Marcos Llorente

Goal

15' GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! VALENCIA 0-1 ATLETICO!!!! Vitolo is played in down the right and picks out Correa, whose attempted shot is blocked by Gabriel. Llorente is right on the case and pokes the ball past Domenech to give Atletico the lead through their first real attempt.

13' We are still waiting for this game to burst into life. Neither side has managed a serious attempt yet and it is difficult to see where a goal is going to come from on the basis of the first 13 minutes.

11' Kondogbia stretches out a leg to cut out the ball. It ricochets off Guedes and into the hands of Domenech.

10' Valencia have won their last three LaLiga home games, keeping a clean sheet in the last two, and could win four consecutive matches at the Mestalla in the competition for the first time since April 2018 (five).

8' An early cross is fizzed into the path of Correa, Atletico's match-winner last time out, but he is unable to bring it under control. Valencia have seen 58 per cent of the ball in the opening eight minutes of the game.

6' Valencia break forward and Soler has the choice of carrying the ball into the box or playing in Guedes. He opts for the latter and the pass is cut out.

4' The ball is worked out to the right but Torres disappointingly overhits a cross straight out of play for a goal-kick. Up the other end, Saul's shot lacks any real power.

3' Arias launches a throw-in into the box but one of his team-mates concedes a free-kick for a shove. Atletico are attempting to pen in their opponents in these early stages.

1' KICK-OFF! Valencia, who can overtake Atletico Madrid in the LaLiga standings with victory today, get us up and running!

The teams are coming out onto the pitch at the Mestalla, with kick-off just moments away.

Valencia are winless in their last 10 LaLiga games against Atletico Madrid, stretching back to a 3-1 win at the Mestalla in October 2014. Ten different Valencia bosses have faced Diego Simeone's Atleti in LaLiga and only two have won - Mauricio Pellegrino in November 2012 and Nuno Espirito Santo in October 2014.

Atletico show two alterations from the 1-0 win against Granada last Saturday, both changes coming in defence. Arias has recovered from injury and Felipe has served a suspension, so Vrsaljko and Hermoso drop down to the bench. Diego Costa has returned to training but is not included in the squad today, though fellow striker Morata is deemed fit enough to take a place among the subs.

Celades has made three changes to Valencia's starting line-up from the 3-0 loss at Getafe six days ago. Alessandro Florenzi misses out through a mixture of suspension and illness, with Wass taking his place at right-back, while Mangala is given the nod over Diakhaby at centre-back. Elsewhere, Rodrigo has been struggling with a knee problem and misses out on the squad entirely today, so in comes Guedes alongside Gomez.

Subs: Alvaro Morata, Thomas Lemar, Yannick Carrasco, Jose Gimenez, Sime Vrsaljko, Antonio Adan, Mario Hermoso.

ATLETICO XI (4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Santiago Arias, Stefan Savic, Felipe, Renan Lodi; Koke (c), Marcos Llorente, Thomas Partey, Saul Niguez; Vitolo, Angel Correa.

Subs: Denis Cheryshev, Jaume Costa, Mouctar Diakhaby, Ruben Sobrino, Cristian Rivero, Kevin Gameiro, Lee Kang-in.

VALENCIA XI (4-4-2): Jaume Domenech; Daniel Wass, Gabriel Paulista, Eliaquim Mangala, Jose Gaya; Ferran Torres, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Daniel Parejo (c), Carlos Soler; Goncalo Guedes, Maxi Gomez.

Valencia are two points worse off than Atleti in seventh place following last week's 3-0 loss at high-flying Getafe. Albert Celades' side were also eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Granada 10 days ago, meaning they head into this big clash on the back of successive defeats in all competitions.

Atletico beat Granada 1-0 last weekend through an early Angel Correa goal to end a poor run of form that had seen them collect one point from a possible nine, as well as exiting the Copa del Rey to Cultural Leonesa. Diego Simeone's men are 13 points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid and have a Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with Liverpool to come on Tuesday.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the LaLiga meeting between Valencia and Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla.

Valencia v Atlético Madrid Live Commentary, 14/02/2020

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