Like a group of bullies on a schoolyard, the experienced players overwhelmed a team that had the desire to succeed but lacked the necessary resources. Atlético Madrid found themselves in a delightful match against Valencia, who generously offered them space and possession of the ball. The likes of Griezmann, De Paul, and Depay were eager to take advantage of this opportunity, like hungry predators sensing their prey. Valencia, on the other hand, struggled to defend against the relentless attacks. Mamardashvili, their goalkeeper, did his best to keep them in the game, but even he couldn’t save them from the onslaught of Atlético’s talented forwards. (Narrative and statistics (2-0))

Atlético could afford to make mistakes without fear of a counterattack from Valencia. The distance between the two teams was significant, rendering Valencia’s speed useless. But to be safe, Reinildo, who had recently returned to the squad, acted as an additional line of defense. Valencia, under the guidance of Baraja, had assembled an intriguing team that displayed flashes of brilliance, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that they were not quite polished enough to compete with the best. They still had a lot to work on.

The Atlético players could sense the vulnerability in Valencia’s defense, particularly in the battle between Lino and Foulquier on the right wing. Nahuel Molina also tried to exploit the weaknesses, but it was Koke and Rodrigo De Paul who truly shone in their midfield dominance. Griezmann played his part in catalyzing the attacks, while Memphis Depay became a nightmare for Mosquera. Despite numerous attempts, the Valencia goalkeeper managed to save some close-range shots. However, the goal was inevitable, and it came in added time. Lino’s blistering run left his marker behind, allowing Griezmann to calmly finish the move. Even Oblak, Atlético’s goalkeeper, was left untested by Valencia’s feeble attempts.

Although the wound inflicted on Valencia was not fatal, it appeared significant enough to be problematic. However, Javi Guerra’s powerful strike from outside the box turned out to be nothing more than a mirage, as Savic quickly responded with a header that forced Mamardashvili to make another impressive save. While Simeone had a plethora of attacking options on his bench, Baraja was left with limited resources. It seemed like nothing was going well for Valencia, as even their captain, Gayà, struggled to win duels against Nahuel Molina. Before heading into halftime, Memphis showcased his talent once again, leaving Mosquera helpless with a magnificent shot that narrowly missed the crossbar.

There was even a penalty awarded to Valencia, initially given by De Burgos Bengoetxea but correctly overturned by VAR. With a comfortable lead, Simeone was able to control the pace of the game, while Valencia managed only one noteworthy play, which proved to be fruitless. It was a relatively straightforward match for Atlético Madrid, who secured their place on the third spot of the LaLiga standings.