Valencia 2-2 Atleti: Visitors held to 10th league draw before Liverpool clash

Valencia wasted two fine late chances as they could only draw 2-2 at home to an out-of-form Atletico Madrid on Friday.

Match Report

Atletico Madrid dropped points for the fourth time in five LaLiga matches as they drew 2-2 at fellow Champions League hopefuls Valencia.

Diego Simeone's men could have moved level on 42 points with third-placed Getafe with victory but, despite taking the lead twice, they were pegged back, meaning Sevilla and Real Sociedad could overtake them this weekend.

Although quality was lacking, the first half certainly entertained and Atletico just about edged it at the interval, with Marcos Llorente and Thomas Partey scoring either side of Gabriel Paulista's equaliser.

Valencia eventually became the superior force in the second half after Geoffrey Kondogbia's 59th-minute goal tied the score, but they failed to make the most of their late dominance as Kevin Gameiro spurned a glorious chance to down his former employers.

Standings

Match Events

15' GOAL! Valencia 0-1 Atletico (Llorente)

Vitolo is played in down the right and picks out Correa, whose attempted shot is blocked by Gabriel. Llorente is right on the case and pokes the ball past Domenech to give Atletico the lead through their first real attempt.

40' GOAL! Valencia 1-1 Atletico (Gabriel)

Gomez chests down a corner and fires a cross into the six-yard box, where Gabriel - who perhaps could have done better to prevent Atletico's opening goal - is waiting to head in an equaliser.

43' GOAL! Valencia 1-2 Atletico (Partey)

Just like that, the visitors are back in front! Thomas turns over possession and charges towards the opposition box. He pulls the trigger from around 20 yards and picks out the bottom-left corner with a fine finish.

59' GOAL! Valencia 2-2 Atletico (Kondogbia)

Parejo floats a delightful free-kick into the penalty box and Kondogbia guides it past Oblak. The midfielder got away from Llorente and, despite miscuing his initial attempt, it went in off his other leg. Simeone will be fuming at his side's defending!

81' Double chances from Morata and Partey

NEARLY! Atletico have been second best in the second half but they could easily have snatched the win here. Morata meets Vrsaljko's cross at the back post and his header is parried by Domenech. Valencia fail to clear the ball and Thomas drills a half-volley wide from a long way out.

90' Oblak makes a decent save

OBLAK MAKES THE SAVE! Parejo's corner is parried to the edge of the box. Gaya puts his boot through the ball and Oblak reacts brilliantly to push it over the crossbar.

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