TEAM NEWS: Valencia - Guaita, Pereira, Costa, Mathieu, Gaya, Fuego, Parejo, Barragan, Jonas, Piatti, Alcacer. /// Atletico Madrid - Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe, Tiago, Gabi, Koke, Garcia, Villa, Costa.

Diego Costa and Ricardo Costa clash, with the Valencia defender fouling the Atletico striker on the halfway line. Then the referee stands on Ricardo's toe, who makes the most of the contact. Must run in the surname.

Simeone is on his touchline again. In fact does he ever leave his touchline?

Koke plays a wonderfully wicked freekick into the box, but Juanfran is adjudged to have barged into a Valencia player and a freekick is awarded. Godin was also all over his marker from the set piece.

A cross into the box drifts all the way out to Filipe on the left wing. However, Barragan does well to sprint across and make a last ditch block to deny the Brazilian left back.

Koke is dropping deep in the centre to collect the ball from the defence. Gabi actually seems to be the one drifting out to the left today.

The partnership between Villa and Costa is an interesting one. At times there appears to be no understanding between the two players, but when Atletico score it's invariably one of the two. It's like a partnership of individual interests.

Both teams are competing wel but there's been a real lack of quality so far. Can Costa, Villa or Garcia up the standard?

Barragan fouls Villa on the halfway line and tempers fray between the two teams just for a moment. Replays show that the Valencia player did indeed catch him quite hard on the shin.

No real chances have been created, but that might be how Atletico like it. They can suffocate Valencia and hit them later in the contest. That's been their style all season long.

Costa has been lively, as he always is, but hasn't seen much of the ball. Whenever he has received it, it's only been for a few fleeting moments. He hasn't had the chance to run at anyone yet.

Simeone is waving and flapping his arms on the touchline, directing and instructing his team on the pitch. He's an intense man and that comes across in the players he puts on the pitch.

Barragan lifts the ball over Juanfran at the byline but can't quite get it, as the ball drifts out for a goal kick. He's been impressive in the opening 20 minutes or so.

Villa surges through the centre of midfield and looks for the run of Costa, who is breaking through the centre of the opposition defence, but the defender comes across and makes a crucial interception.

Here's another foreboding statistic for you. Atletico haven't won in Valencia in their last 10 attempts. Having said that, this Atletico side are a different proposition this season. Can they break that run?

Interesting shot by Parejo. From about 25 yards out he gets caught in two minds between pass and shot and ends up skewing the ball well wide of goal. He did neither!

Valencia have wrestled back control of the ball and are knocking it about their defence, with Atletico sitting deep in their own half.

Villa has scored just once in his last 10 games against Valencia. Of course, he spent a spell at the Mestalla and is a revered figure around these parts.

Fantastic effort by Villa! He has his back to goal and swivels to get the shot away on goal. But his effort flashes just inches past the post. That would have been incredible. He knew exactly what he wanted to do.

The visitors are enjoying a bit more of the ball now, making it stick in the centre of midfield. A pass goes over the top of the Valencia defence, with Costa looking to latch on to it, but Perreira steps up and the striker is offside.

Of course, anyone who watches Atletico regularly knows that this is how they like to play. They sit deep and soak up the pressure before breaking on the rapid counter attack. It's what they do well.