Valencia 1-3 Atlético Madrid

Fernando Torres celebrates his goal for Atletico Madrid against Valencia — Fernando Torres celebrates his fifth goal of the season

Atletico Madrid kept their La Liga title hopes alive with victory over Gary Neville's Valencia.

Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres scored the pivotal goal on 72 minutes as Atletico moved within eight points of leaders Barcelona.

Antoine Griezmann put Atletico ahead and Denis Cheryshev equalised for Valencia before Torres struck.

Valencia had Anderlan Santos sent off on 80 minutes before Yannick Carrasco completed the scoring.

Neville suffered just a second defeat in seven games as goalkeeper Diego Alves endured a tough night.

Substitute Torres makes the difference

Atletico made the brighter start so it was no real surprise when they went ahead in the 24th minute.

They squandered possession 25 yards from goal and Griezmann let fly with a low shot that crept inside the near post with home goalkeeper Alves slow to react.

The lead lasted just four minutes, however, before Valencia scored as a long pass was cushioned by the head of Paco Alcacer to Cheryshev, who lashed home a left-footed drive from 15 yards.

Cheryshev lifted a shot over the crossbar from another Alcacer header seven minutes before half-time as Valencia grew in confidence.

Antoine Greizmann of Atletico Madrid celebrates scoring against Valencia — Antoine Griezmann celebrates after opening the scoring with his 22nd goal of the season in all competitions

Alcacer had a chance to put Valencia ahead just before the hour mark when he latched onto a pass by Sofiane Feghouli but fired straight at goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Moments later Alves made up for his earlier error with a fantastic, one-handed save to keep out a powerful effort by Luciano Vietto.

But the keeper could do nothing to stop substitute Torres, who was making his 300th Atletico appearance, putting his side ahead with 18 minutes remaining as he slid in at the far post to turn the ball home after Jose Maria Gimenez flicked on a corner.

Santos saw red for two bookable offences with five minutes remaining and Carrasco made it 3-1 five minutes later when he fired straight at Alves, who allowed the ball to creep in under his legs.

Earlier in the day, Barcelona kept up their run with a comfortable win at Eibar.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Valencia

Formation 4-3-3

1Alves Carreira
2Cancelo
5Mustafi
4SantosBooked at 80mins
6Siqueira
15PérezSubstituted forBarbosa da Silvaat 45'minutes
18Fuego MartínezSubstituted forNegredoat 84'minutes
21André Gomes
8FeghouliBooked at 78mins
9Alcácer
24CheryshevSubstituted forRodrigoat 61'minutes

Substitutes

7Negredo
10Parejo
12Barbosa da Silva
17Rodrigo
19Barragán
23Abdennour
25Ryan

Atl Madrid

Formation 4-3-3

13Oblak
20Torres Belén
24Giménez de Vargas
19Hernández
3Filipe Luís
14Fernández Arenas
8KranevitterSubstituted forTorresat 63'minutes
17Saúl
6Koke
23ViettoBooked at 64minsSubstituted forCarrascoat 69'minutes
7GriezmannSubstituted forTorres Muñozat 88'minutes

Substitutes

1Moyá Rumbo
9Torres
10Torres Muñoz
16Correa
18Gámez
21Carrasco
22Partey

Referee:: Alfonso Javier Álvarez Izquierdo
Attendance:: 40,857

Match Stats

Home TeamValenciaAway TeamAtl Madrid

Possession: Home44%; Away56%

Shots: Home10; Away20

Shots on Target: Home3; Away5

Corners: Home6; Away7

Fouls: Home13; Away11

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Valencia 1, Atlético de Madrid 3.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Valencia 1, Atlético de Madrid 3.

90'+2'
Post update
Attempt missed. Yannick Carrasco (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Juanfran with a cross.
90'
Post update
Filipe Luis (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'
Post update
Foul by Paco Alcácer (Valencia).
89'
Post update
Saúl Ñíguez (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'
Post update
Foul by Paco Alcácer (Valencia).
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Atlético de Madrid. Óliver Torres replaces Antoine Griezmann.
87'
Post update
Offside, Atlético de Madrid. Yannick Carrasco tries a through ball, but Juanfran is caught offside.
85'
Goal!
Goal! Valencia 1, Atlético de Madrid 3. Yannick Carrasco (Atlético de Madrid) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann.
84'
Post update
Filipe Luis (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'
Post update
Foul by Álvaro Negredo (Valencia).
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Álvaro Negredo replaces Javi Fuego.
83'
Post update
Offside, Atlético de Madrid. Antoine Griezmann tries a through ball, but Juanfran is caught offside.
82'
Post update
Corner, Atlético de Madrid. Conceded by Shkodran Mustafi.
80'
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Aderlan Santos (Valencia) for a bad foul.
80'
Post update
Fernando Torres (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
80'
Post update
Foul by Aderlan Santos (Valencia).
78'
Booking
Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
78'
Post update
Lucas Hernández (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Accessibility links