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Valencia moved up to second in La Liga as they beat Atlético Madrid 3-1 on Saturday evening, thanks to two goals from the returning David Silva. As usual Goal.com was on hand to rate the good, the bad, and the rest...
VALENCIA
Renan 6.5 - Looked slightly dodgy on a few occasions as he dropped routine crosses but did make a couple of great saves towards the end, especially from Pernía's free-kick.
Miguel 6.0 - Got into some good positions inside the box but a shame his finishing was not better, otherwise he could have had a couple of goals. Did get caught out at the back on a few occasions by Simao and other Atlético forwards though.
Maduro 6.5 - Missed a great chance to put his side further ahead when he headed over from a few yards out but at the back he was solid and the coach will be pleased with his contribution.
Albiol 6.5 - Like his defensive partner he was solid throughout and dealt with the threats of Atlético well.
Moretti 6.5 - Didn't get forward as much as Miguel but did defend better, and also put some good balls into the box when he did venture down the wing.
Albelda 6.5 - Battled hard in midfield, sometimes too hard, but overall it was a tough, combative display and he will be pleased with his work.
Baraja 3.5 - May have won the penalty for Valencia but did so by throwing himself to the floor when there appeared to be no contact at all. Then up the other end he pushed Agüero for the Atlético penalty, aside from those incidents he didn't do too much remarkable in the midfield.
Joaquín 7.0 - A constant menace down the right flank where he tormented Pernía and put in some good crossed. Only disappointment was that he didn't provide an assist for a goal, but he created opportunities that perhaps his team-mates should have done better with.
Silva 8.0 - Wasn't a certainty to start the match this evening but how Unai Emery will be glad he decided to put him in the XI. The Spaniard showed just why he was such a loss to Valencia, darting at the Atlético backline and creating havoc with his runs. Finished the move with a lovely poke for his first goal and hit a sublime strike for his second from distance, deserved his standing ovation.
Mata 7.0 - Like Joaquín he was a menace down the flank and he delivered some outstanding crosses for his team-mates, a decent display from the Spaniard.
Villa 6.5 - Scored the penalty that gave Valencia the lead but for much of the match he was isolated and didn't really get into it that much, a surprise considering the quality of service around him.
Subs:
Fernandes 6 - Didn't really have time to alter the game much but was solid enough.
Vicente 6.5 - Made some great runs in the short time he was on and only a good block prevented him from seriously testing Leo Franco.
Edu 6 - Not enough time to change anything.
ATLÉTICO MADRID
Leo Franco 5.5 - Can't really be blamed for any of the goals but he didn't look comfortable at times, and he certainly didn't have an air of confidence.
Perea 5.5 - Not a bad performance from the right-back going forward but at the back he was caught out too many times, and needs to learn to defend better. Was also very lucky not to give away a penalty for fouling Villa in the first half.
Ujfalusi 6.5 - Undoubtedly the best of the back four, not that that is saying much, as he shackled Villa well and used his strength to deny the Valencia forwards.
Heitinga 4.5 - Always seems to struggle against the big teams and tonight was no exception as he constantly got turned inside out. Very fortunate to get away with gifting Villa an early chance on goal but never got to grips with the match.
Pernía 5.0 - Like Perea he was alright going forward but at the back he got beaten far too many times by Joaquín and only didn't pay for it more because the Spaniard won fouls each time.
Luis García 4.5 - Totally anonymous during his time on the pitch and his performance illustrated why Atlético desperately need to bring in some cover for the right wing this winter.
Assuncao 5.5 - Battled hard in midfield but at the end of the day was outdone by the wily Albelda, not a bad performance though, just not great.
Raúl García 5 - Like Assuncao he tried hard but his distribution was not great at all and there is no doubt Atlético missed Maniche.
Simao 7 - Yet again he was the best player on the pitch for Atlético as he burst down the left flank time and time again. Was involved in the move that won the penalty and put in some good crosses, another good performance from the Portugeuse international.
Agüero 6.5 - Worked hard up front but didn't get the ball enough and had to drop too deep to pick it up. Showed glimpses of his talent but he never really got into the match and his main contribution was to win the penalty.
Forlán 6.5 - Like Agüero he did try hard and the times he did get the ball he used it well, on most occasions. However, aside from the penalty, he never really tested Renan and desperately missed the service of Maxi Rodríguez and Maniche.
Subs:
Sinama-Pongolle 6.0 - Looked lively after coming on but didn't really create much except for a few runs.
VALENCIA
Renan 6.5 - Looked slightly dodgy on a few occasions as he dropped routine crosses but did make a couple of great saves towards the end, especially from Pernía's free-kick.
Miguel 6.0 - Got into some good positions inside the box but a shame his finishing was not better, otherwise he could have had a couple of goals. Did get caught out at the back on a few occasions by Simao and other Atlético forwards though.
Maduro 6.5 - Missed a great chance to put his side further ahead when he headed over from a few yards out but at the back he was solid and the coach will be pleased with his contribution.
Albiol 6.5 - Like his defensive partner he was solid throughout and dealt with the threats of Atlético well.
Moretti 6.5 - Didn't get forward as much as Miguel but did defend better, and also put some good balls into the box when he did venture down the wing.
Albelda 6.5 - Battled hard in midfield, sometimes too hard, but overall it was a tough, combative display and he will be pleased with his work.
Baraja 3.5 - May have won the penalty for Valencia but did so by throwing himself to the floor when there appeared to be no contact at all. Then up the other end he pushed Agüero for the Atlético penalty, aside from those incidents he didn't do too much remarkable in the midfield.
Joaquín 7.0 - A constant menace down the right flank where he tormented Pernía and put in some good crossed. Only disappointment was that he didn't provide an assist for a goal, but he created opportunities that perhaps his team-mates should have done better with.
Silva 8.0 - Wasn't a certainty to start the match this evening but how Unai Emery will be glad he decided to put him in the XI. The Spaniard showed just why he was such a loss to Valencia, darting at the Atlético backline and creating havoc with his runs. Finished the move with a lovely poke for his first goal and hit a sublime strike for his second from distance, deserved his standing ovation.
Mata 7.0 - Like Joaquín he was a menace down the flank and he delivered some outstanding crosses for his team-mates, a decent display from the Spaniard.
Villa 6.5 - Scored the penalty that gave Valencia the lead but for much of the match he was isolated and didn't really get into it that much, a surprise considering the quality of service around him.
Subs:
Fernandes 6 - Didn't really have time to alter the game much but was solid enough.
Vicente 6.5 - Made some great runs in the short time he was on and only a good block prevented him from seriously testing Leo Franco.
Edu 6 - Not enough time to change anything.
ATLÉTICO MADRID
Leo Franco 5.5 - Can't really be blamed for any of the goals but he didn't look comfortable at times, and he certainly didn't have an air of confidence.
Perea 5.5 - Not a bad performance from the right-back going forward but at the back he was caught out too many times, and needs to learn to defend better. Was also very lucky not to give away a penalty for fouling Villa in the first half.
Ujfalusi 6.5 - Undoubtedly the best of the back four, not that that is saying much, as he shackled Villa well and used his strength to deny the Valencia forwards.
Heitinga 4.5 - Always seems to struggle against the big teams and tonight was no exception as he constantly got turned inside out. Very fortunate to get away with gifting Villa an early chance on goal but never got to grips with the match.
Pernía 5.0 - Like Perea he was alright going forward but at the back he got beaten far too many times by Joaquín and only didn't pay for it more because the Spaniard won fouls each time.
Luis García 4.5 - Totally anonymous during his time on the pitch and his performance illustrated why Atlético desperately need to bring in some cover for the right wing this winter.
Assuncao 5.5 - Battled hard in midfield but at the end of the day was outdone by the wily Albelda, not a bad performance though, just not great.
Raúl García 5 - Like Assuncao he tried hard but his distribution was not great at all and there is no doubt Atlético missed Maniche.
Simao 7 - Yet again he was the best player on the pitch for Atlético as he burst down the left flank time and time again. Was involved in the move that won the penalty and put in some good crosses, another good performance from the Portugeuse international.
Agüero 6.5 - Worked hard up front but didn't get the ball enough and had to drop too deep to pick it up. Showed glimpses of his talent but he never really got into the match and his main contribution was to win the penalty.
Forlán 6.5 - Like Agüero he did try hard and the times he did get the ball he used it well, on most occasions. However, aside from the penalty, he never really tested Renan and desperately missed the service of Maxi Rodríguez and Maniche.
Subs:
Sinama-Pongolle 6.0 - Looked lively after coming on but didn't really create much except for a few runs.
