Atletico Madrid news: Diego Simeone's side score twice in injury-time to beat Valencia 3-2

Atletco Madrid pulled off a sensational comeback win on Saturday by scoring twice in the injury-time to claim a 3-2 La Liga win against Valencia at Wanda Metropolitano. Diego Simeone’s side were staring down at another disappointing defeat when Yunus Musah and Hugo Duro put Valencia two up at half-time. However, Atletico pulled one back through Matheus Cunha after the hour-mark before Angel Correa equalised in the 90th minute and then two minutes later, Mario Hermoso struck the winner to complete an incredible fight back.

FT #AtletiValencia 3-2

Epic comeback from @atletienglish! ??⚪️#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/hUbMsLk6Tq

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) January 22, 2022

Valencia broke the deadlock five minutes before the half-hour mark when Goncalo Guedes played an aerial ball to Musah on the left, the American cut inside before unleashing a low drive from inside the box that beat Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak at the near post.   

The visitors extended the lead on the stroke of half-time. Toni Lato played the through ball to Hugo Daro, whose left-footed shot from the centre of the box went into the bottom right corner. It was a poor opening half performance from the hosts and Valencia were clearly the better side heading into the break.

However, after the restart, the home side played with more intent as Luis Suarez tested Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Domenech at the near post after being released down the left side by Joao Felix.

In the 64th minute, substitute Matheus Cunha led the fight back as he slotted home from Yannick Carrasco’s corner from the left flank. Ten minutes from time, Correa’s shot from a difficult angle just missed the target. 

In the 90th minute, Correa leveled the score for the hosts. Suarez couldn’t get a touch on Carrasco’s teasing cross from the right, the goalkeeper came out and made a block but the rebound fell nicely for Correa to slot home.

It was a crazy one from the start: Correa

“It was a crazy one from the start,” Correa said. “We are happy we found a way to come back against such a complicated rival.”

Two minutes later, Cunha delivered a perfect low cross from the right side of the box for Hermoso at the far post to tap-in and secure three points for Atletico Madrid.

The result gives huge boost to the team and the coach, and leaves the defending champions trailing the fourth-placed Real Betis by just four points with a game in hand. 

“It was the first half in which we weren’t ourselves,” said Simeone.

“We went into the half-time feeling down, anxious, sad. We said if we had to lose, we had to lose with pride, with courage, and that if we scored a goal, the fans would carry us back, which is what happened.”