Three early goals were enough to give Valencia the win over Spanish champions Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla this afternoon, sending them top of La Liga.
It was second against third with Valencia making sure that Atletico did not leapfrog them as they flew out of the traps, finding the back of the net three times in 13 minutes.
The hosts were gifted the lead on six minutes after a horrible mix-up between Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya and Miranda, the defender heading into his own net under no pressure from any Valencia players after a hopeful Antonio Barragan cross.
There was nothing comical about the second Valencia goal, however, which was an individual effort from Andre Gomes. The player on loan from Benfica jigged through the Atletico defence with ease before slotting past Moya from a tight angle, giving the hosts their second goal just a minute after their first.
Valencia made it three on the 13-minute mark, a through-ball from Daniel Parejo finding Paco Alcacer, who won a corner off Miranda. The resulting cross was poorly defended, with the unmarked Nicolas Otamendi meeting the ball with his head to send the home support into raptures.
Atletico gave themselves a lifeline on the half-hour mark, Tiago pinching the ball in the Valencia half and having a go from distance. He forced a save from Alves, but Mario Mandzukic was free to head home and claw his side back into the game.
The fightback could have been well underway just before the break as Atletico were awarded a penalty after a handball by Jose Gaya, but Guilherme Siqueira missed the spot kick and Diego Simeone's men went in 3-1 down at the break.
The second half began in a less frantic fashion that the first, with both sides seemingly keen on not conceding any more goals.
Mandzukic tested Alves from distance after he found himself with the ball and no support five minutes after the restart, though his attacking partner Antoine Griezmann showed little going forward and was replaced with Cerci on the hour mark.
The substitute thought he had made the final moments of the game a bit more interesting with a 90th-minute goal, though the Atletico man was judged to have handled the ball and was given his marching orders for a second yellow.
The hosts played a disciplined game in the second half and made safe the points, sending them above Barcelona at the summit of La Liga, though the Catalan giants will have the chance to reclaim top spot when they play Rayo Vallecano later this afternoon.
Phil Archbold
