Sawt Falasteen - Atletico recover Liga momentum with battling win over Valencia

Goals by captain Koke and Griezmann brought Diego Simeone's fourth-placed side within six points of leaders Barcelona, who host Osasuna later on.

Atletico had muscled their way back into the Spanish title race after a slow start to the season, before suffering damaging consecutive Liga defeats by Barca and Athletic Bilbao at the start of December.

They followed up a Champions League victory at PSV in midweek with a solid display at their Metropolitano stadium against Los Che.

"We made a big effort in the Champions League, it was hard for us to find our rhythm, and in the end it was the substitutes who gave that spark and that speed, so that we could win today," Griezmann, brought on in the second half, told DAZN.

Valencia began well, Hugo Duro hitting the crossbar, but were undone by a scramble at a corner. Goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala repelled one effort but was unable to do anything as Koke slid home the rebound.

The visitors thought they had levelled through Pepelu after 35 minutes but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review for offside against Duro in the build-up.

Target man Alexander Sorloth could have extended Atletico's lead before half-time after charging into the box but Agirrezabala denied him.

Valencia, 16th, pulled level soon after the hour, with Beltran's blast from distance catching out Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

The Argentine forward showed neat footwork on the edge of the box before smashing a strike inside the near post.

Simeone's side pulled in front decisively through Griezmann, who plucked Marc Pubill's long ball out of the sky with a raised left leg, read the ball's bounce and lashed it past Agirrezabala for his fifth league goal.

Sorloth had a goal ruled out for offside before the end, with Valencia unable to threaten Oblak's goal.

On Sunday, second-placed Real Madrid visit Alaves, amid reports coach Xabi Alonso's position is in danger, while third-place Villarreal visit neighbours Levante.

S.Barghouti--SF-PST