Alves saves two penalties but can't stop Atletico Madrid win over Valencia
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Updated 02/10/2016 at 12:27 GMT
La Liga, Mestalla - Valencia 0 Atletico Madrid 2 (Griezmann 63', 90')
Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann (2nd R) celebrates a goal with teammates during the Spanish league football match Valencia FC vs Club Atletico de Madrid at Mestalla stadium in Valencia on October 2, 2016
Image credit: AFP
Diego Alves saved two penalty kicks but still couldn’t prevent his Valencia side from suffering a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
The win sends Diego Simeone’s side to the top of La Liga, with goals from Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro securing the three points for the visitors to the Mestalla. But it was Alves who stole the show with his heroics from 12 yards.
The Brazilian has earned quite a reputation for himself as a penalty kick saving extraordinaire, and he backed that up with two stops. His save to deny Griezmann was especially impressive, also denying Gabi from the spot.
However, it wasn’t enough as Atletico Madrid ultimately ground down Valencia. Simeone might bemoan how his side struggled to put daylight between themselves and the hosts sooner, but there is a sense that Atleti are starting to find momentum as they went top of the pile.
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Atletico Madrid's French forward Kevin Gameiro (L) celebrates a goal with Atletico Madrid's forward Fernando Torres during the Spanish league football match Valencia FC vs Club Atletico de Madrid at Mestalla stadium in Valencia on October 2, 2016
Image credit: AFP
TALKING POINT - Do Atletico Madrid have a penalty kicks problem?
Atletico Madrid have a conversion rate of just 38.6% when it comes to penalty kicks taken since the 2012/13 season, with Griezmann and Gabi both seeing spot kicks saved by Alves. The Brazilian is a behemoth when it comes to saving from 12 yards, but given their track record in recent times does Simeone have to address a penalty kick problem? Is there a deeper issue there?
MAN OF THE MATCH - Antoine Griezmann
The Frenchman is the embodiment of Simeone’s Atletico Madrid team and he was once again the best player on the pitch. He schemed across the frontline, creating opportunities where there shouldn’t have been any and generally causing Valencia problems throughout. His second penalty miss in a week spoiled his performance slightly, but he still did more than any other to secure an Atletico Madrid win.
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Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann celebrates a goal during the Spanish league football match Valencia FC vs Club Atletico de Madrid at Mestalla stadium in Valencia on October 2, 2016
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
Valencia - Alves 9, Montoya 6, Santos 7, Mangala 5, Gaya 7, Perez 6, Suarez 7, Cancelo 6, Parejo 6, Nani 5, Rodrigo 5. Subs - Bakkali 5, Mina 6, Munir 5.
Atletico Madrid - Oblak 6, Juanfran 6, Luis 7, Savic 5, Hernandez 7, Gabi 5, Koke 6, Correa 7, Saul 6, Gameiro 8, Griezmann 9. Subs - Carrasco 7, Torres 7, Tiago 5.
KEY MOMENTS
10’ ALMOST AN OPENER! Griezmann leads an Atletico Madrid counter attack, with Gameiro's cross to the back post finding Saul, but Alves gets down well to make the save.
28’ GRIEZMANN TAKES AIM! The French attacker dribbles across the edge of the box and shoots towards goal with his left foot, but Alves does well to push the ball over the crossbar.
33’ SUAREZ SHOOTS OVER! The ball falls to the midfielder on the edge of the Atletico Madrid box, but he curls his effort over the target. You could see what he was trying to do with that.
38’ GOOD SAVE FROM OBLAK! Gaya lines up the shot, but the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper makes a comfortable save to deny him and keep the scoreline goalless for the time being.
43’ PENALTY KICK TO ATLETICO MADRID! The away side will have the chance from the spot after Nani takes out Correa in the box.
44’ ALVES SAVES! Can you believe it? The Valencia goalkeeper has saved ANOTHER penalty kick. He's so good at that. Griezmann went for the left corner, but Alves made the stop to deny him.
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Valencia's goalkeeper Diego Alves gestures during the Spanish league football match Valencia FC vs Club Atletico de Madrid at Mestalla stadium in Valencia on October 2, 2016
Image credit: AFP
55’ LUIS SHOT ON GOAL! The left back is up from his defensive line for an Atletico Madrid attack, but is shot is straight at Alves and the Valencia goalkeeper can make the save.
56’ WHAT A TACKLE! Mina loooked to be clean through on goal and was just about to take the shot. But out of nowhere Hernandez comes flying in and makes the last ditch challenge.
63’ GOAL! Valencia 0-1 Atletico Madrid: There's the breakthrough and it's come for Atletico! Torres' shot is saved, Griezmann recovers it on the rebound and fires high into the net.
71’ PENALTY KICK TO ATLETICO MADRID! Griezmann is taken out inside the penalty area, but will he take a second spot kick?
73’ ALVES HAS SAVED ANOTHER ONE! This is unbelievable. He's so good at saving penalty kicks. Gabi's spot wasn't that bad, sending it to the right corner, but Alves made the stop.
84’ GABI FLASHES ONE WIDE! The ball is played to the captain about 20 yards out, he catches it flush, but the ball flashes across goal and past the far post. There wasn't much in that.
90’ MANGALA SHOULD HAVE SCORED! The ball in between the Atletico Madri centre backs was a good one, but the defender - who was up from the back - could only head straight at Alves.
92’ GOAL! Valencia 0-2 Atletico Madrid: And that will be that. Gameiro found himself with just one defender to beat, he cut inside and slotted the finish past Alves at the near post. The pass from Juanfran was excellent.
KEY STATS
Kevin Gameiro has assisted half of Antoine Griezmann’s goals in La Liga this season.
Atletico Madrid have scored just 22 of the 57 penalties they've taken in La Liga since the 2012/13 season.
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