LaLiga: Atletico Edge Valencia as Relegation Fears Grow for Hosts

Atletico leave it late to sink Valencia at Mestalla

 

Miguel Cubo made it 2-0 after latching onto Griezmann’s pass. Valencia hit the post through Ramazani and remain five points above the drop.

Goals from Luque and Cubo keep Atletico fourth. Atletico wasted several chances before breaking through late...

Debut goals from Luque and Cubo gave Atlético Madrid a 2-0 win at Mestalla, piling pressure on Valencia as the season nears its end.  

The game started slowly until Atletico Madrid carved out a clear chance out of nothing around the 15th minute.

Nahuel Molina’s no-look backheel set up Rodrigo Mendoza for a clear chance, but Stole Dimitrievski made a sharp block to deny him. Moments later Molina almost scored himself, lashing a long-range shot off the bar to let Valencia off the hook.  

With 10 minutes left in the half, Atlético wasted two more chances. Robin Le Normand blazed over from close range after losing his composure in the box, and Rayane Belaid headed wide from Molina’s cross from the right.

Valencia almost took the lead against the run of play in the 39th minute when Largie Ramazani’s strike from the edge of the box hit the post.  

Both sides started the second half sluggishly, and Atlético missed another chance on the hour as Rayane Belaid dragged wide from inside the box despite being unmarked, following another clever ball from Molina.  

  

With the game drifting toward 0-0, debutant Iker Luque broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, curling a low finish into the corner from just outside the area.

Luque’s goal silenced the Mestalla crowd, and even though Valencia pushed for a late equalizer, fellow debutant Miguel Cubo sealed it. He ran onto Antoine Griezmann’s precise pass and fired past Dimitrievski to make it 2-0.  

Taking all three points back to Madrid ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/4CGvyjV23p

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 2, 2026

With four games left, Valencia sit 12th, five points clear of relegation, and will be desperate to get back to winning ways at Athletic Bilbao next weekend. Atlético remain fourth and now turn to the Champions League semi-final second leg at Arsenal on Tuesday.