It promised goals and it didn't disappoint. Pure entertainment from the two Spanish teams left in the Europa League, as Atletico Madrid and Valencia treated us to a feast of football in the Mestalla. The first half ended goalless after 45 minutes of end-to-end football, with Simao coming closest to breaking the stalemate with a curler which struck Cesars post, whilst David Villa had a goal ruled out for offside. Sergio Agüero was at his mischievous best, and when he broke free without a defender in sight 13 minutes into the second half, he unselfishly squared to his best bud Diego Forlán who had the simple task of tapping in. Atleti fans will have been pleased to see them celebrate the goal with a manly hug. Friends again? What will have really pleased Quique was a defensive performance that handled Valencias front quartet with relative comfort, bar some magical moments from David Silva that few defences in world football could cope with. And there wasn't a error in sight as Valencias equaliser came from distance, and what a goal it was. A bullet of a shot from Manuel Fernandes that flew through Raul Garcias legs and past a helpless De Gea. That guy has a sledgehammer of a right foot. Five minutes later, Atletico nudged themselves back infront, with little full-back Antonio Lopez nodding in after Dominguez had headed a corner back across goal. Two away goals that could prove priceless. David Villa got Valencia back on level terms, with a typically sharp finish after good work from young Jordi Alba and Vicente, as next weeks clash at the Vicente Calderon promises to be a classic.
What a great match, I can't wait for the return leg...
ReplyDeleteYou just know its going to be a classic....
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