Two soccer players compete for the ball during a match.

Valencia CF warns Atlético before the match: 'We were very close to...'

The team currently managed by Baraja was already very close to taking victory at the Metropolitano

Atlético de Madrid and Valencia have a new match at the Metropolitano this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. The Colchoneros will be looking to give their fans another victory, after they left with a goalless draw against RCD Espanyol in the last match. Barajas ' men, on the other hand, will try to fight for their first victory of the season to get out of last place in the table.

An Atletico Madrid soccer player is about to kick the ball during a match, while another player from the opposing team watches in the background.
Samuel Lino scored in the last Atlético-Valencia | Europapress

Something that is expected to be quite difficult for the Valencians, who have not yet managed to win at the "new" stadium of Atlético de Madrid . However, on more than one occasion the "ches" have managed to give the red-and-whites a good scare, forcing them to have to turn the game around on several occasions. For this reason, Diego Pablo Simeone's men will have to be very careful when facing the match against a team that you never know where they can come out.

19-20 and 20-21, the first scares

Although Atlético de Madrid has emerged victorious in most of its matches, Valencia CF has shaken up the Metropolitano and raised doubts. First it was in the 19-20 season, when both teams tied 1-1 with goals from Joao Félix and Dani Parejo . That match was the only one in which the Valencians have managed to score since the red-and-white stadium was inaugurated.

Already in the 20-21 season, Javi Gracia's team managed to take the lead thanks to a long-range goal from Racic . Jan Oblak , who, like everyone else, was caught off guard by that strike, could do little to stop it. However, Atlético de Madrid did not have too many problems in coming back and the match ended 3-1 with goals from Joao Félix, Luis Suárez and Ángel Correa .

The comeback in 21-22, the most memorable moment

However, if there is one encounter between Atlético de Madrid and Valencia that will remain in the memory, it will be the one played in the 21-22 season. That match, which had extra importance because of the traditional shield worn by the colchoneros on their chests, will remain in the memory for the final comeback. The Valencians managed to get a 0-2 lead, something that fell like a bucket of cold water on the red-and-white fans at the Metropolitano .

Football player in a red Atlético de Madrid shirt gesturing with outstretched arms in front of a goal.
Mario Hermoso, the hero of Atlético's latest comeback against Valencia | Europapress

The score went into the break at 0-2, but Diego Pablo Simeone managed to find the key to motivate his players and achieve a surprising comeback. It all came in the final moments, as after Matheus Cunha 's goal in the 64th minute, Ángel Correa equalised in the 90th minute. All of this led to Mario Hermoso scoring the final 3-2 in the 93rd minute, making the entire Cívitas Metropolitano and his teammates explode.

More peaceful last years

Despite those two seasons where Valencia CF was a tough nut to crack for Atlético de Madrid , the games were more controlled in the past two seasons. In 22-23, the rojiblancos won 3-0 with goals from Antoine Griezmann, Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Lemar . A year later, in 23-24, Samuel Lino , with a Valencia past, and Memphis Depay , got the three points at the Metropolitano .

This Sunday's game will be a new chapter in the already tight clashes between Atlético de Madrid and Valencia . Each team is equally interested, although in different forms, so we will have to see how the match develops as the minutes go by. Whatever the case, it will be a high-level match at a Metropolitano that will be, as always, packed.