Atlético Madrid cruised to a convincing 3-0 home win over bottom side Valencia on Sunday in LaLiga thanks to goals from Conor Gallagher, Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez.
Marcos Llorente and Samuel Lino went close in the first half before Atletico took the lead in the 39th minute when new signing Gallagher finished into the bottom corner after latching on to a delightful pass from Rodrigo De Paul that was slipped through the legs of defender Cristhian Mosquera.
It was Gallagher’s first goal since joining Diego Simeone’s side from Chelsea this summer, making him the first Englishman to score a LaLiga goal for Atleti in the history of Spain‘s top flight.
“He came with a lot of enthusiasm and we needed that kind of player in the midfield because he makes us better,” Simeone told a news conference. “He does not stop giving his best in every game situation in which he participates.”
Alexander Sørloth, another summer signing for Simeone’s revamped side, also created a couple of dangerous chances only to be denied by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Valencia fought hard for an equaliser, with Javi Guerra’s long-range effort going wide, but they were unable to prevent Griezmann from finding the net after Lino’s header fell into his path nine minutes after the break.
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Another new recruit, Álvarez, put the icing on the cake with his first goal in the Spanish top flight after joining from Manchester City, when he slotted home Rodrigo Riquelme‘s cross in the 93rd minute.
“I didn’t feel any pressure [to score], I simply say that the goal happens as a result of the game and you have to be prepared for when the opportunity comes,” Álvarez told Spanish TV. “We’re doing well as a group, we’re getting off to a good start. Now we have Champions League games coming up and we have to keep working to keep this momentum going.”
Simeone agreed, but he added that it was important that the Argentina international got on the scoresheet after his big summer move to Atleti.
“We all needed him to score a goal, for him to be more relaxed, to be connected to what he likes. Hopefully the goal will be the first of many,” the manager said. “I imagine that he lives for the goal and the enthusiasm to generate this type of situations, today he appeared as he always does at the least expected moment at the end of the game when hope seems to be fading and luckily he scored.”
Atlético, who are unbeaten this season, moved into second place, level on 11 points with Real Madrid and four behind leaders Barcelona. They face RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Thursday.
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