Atlético Madrid are still on Barcelona's heels after an authoritative 3-1 win over Valencia at the Mestalla. The match was evenly balanced in the first half, but Diego Simeone's boys pulled ahead after the interval.
Atlético went 1-0 up in the 24th minute after Javi Fuego lost the ball, which went to Antoine Griezmann, who beat Diego Alves in the Valencia goal with a powerful low shot. This did not sink Valencia, however. Quite the reverse: they reacted immediately and just three minutes later drew level through Real Madrid loanee Denis Cheryshev.
In the second half Atlético found their A-game, taking the lead again in the 71st minute with a goal from Fernando Torres. Then in the 85th minute, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco made sure of the result with some help from Diego Alves, who could have done a lot more to prevent the Belgian's shot, which went right down the keeper's throat.
Source: transfermarketweb.com