Valencia CF fight back to draw Atletico Madrid
Valencia CF dropped their first points in this year's La Liga after Unai Emery's team drew Atletico Madrid 1–1 at the Estadio Mestalla.
Simao Sabrosa gave the visitors a 19th-minute lead, but Valencia pressed on an were able to grab an equaliser from Aritz Aduriz' header in the last few minutes of ordinary time.
"I think that if anyone deserved the win the balance shifted in favour of Valencia," Emery told Super Deporte of his team's performance. "We have to find consistency and we are on the right path. We have
to stay positive and certainly there are days when we will win and I will be less satisfied so overall we have to be happy with the effort."
Atletico fast on the break
Miguel Monteiro was industrious going down Valencia's right flank, and Aduriz could have done better in the ninth minute, when he steered the right-back's cross over the bar with a header.
As Valencia dominated the initial stages, Atletico showed signs of danger on the counter-attack. Diego Costa raced past the home team's Hedwiges Maduro, but his finish flew just wide of the Valencia goal.
Atletico broke quickly in the 18th minute, as Diego Forlan's ball sent Antonio Lopez through on the flank. The left-back teed up Simao, who had made a well-timed run through the centre. The Portuguese
collected the ball with one touch before slotting the ball under Cesar Sanchez.
Forlan nearly pounced on some miscommunication between Costa and Cesar eight minutes before half time, but the Uruguayan failed to control the ball.
Emery introduced new signing Roberto Soldado after the break, and the striker did all he could to get his team back in the game. David de Gea, Atletico's young keeper, first got the better of Soldado's
long-range shot in the 72nd minute before he parried his header two minutes later.
Aduriz the saviour
Just before the home fans lost hope in a recovery, veteran David Albelda picked up a loose ball on the right side after a tussle, sending a high and speculative cross into the area.
The ball found Aduriz at the far post, and the striker rose high to divert the ball into the corner of the net and salvage a point for his team. The relief inside the Mestalla was palpable.
Emery then tightened his defence, eager not to let the point slip. His team managed to hold a draw in the toughest fixture to date this season. With games against Manchester United and Barcelona ahead,
more top-notch opposition awaits.
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