Atlético Madrid scraped a vital 2-1 victory over Valencia in a gritty LaLiga clash on Saturday, December 13, 2025, thanks to a moment of magic from Antoine Griezmann. The French star's breathtaking late winner kept Diego Simeone's side firmly in the title hunt, but it wasn't without drama—Valencia fought back fiercely before falling short.
The match at the Wanda Metropolitano had all the hallmarks of a classic Atlético grind. Trailing after Valencia's slick equalizer, the hosts leaned on their battle-hardened core to grind out the points just before the holiday break.
First Half: Atlético Take Control Amid Chaos
Atlético struck first in a scrappy opener, capitalizing on a
pinball scramble in the box that Nahuel Molina and others turned into a goal. Commentary highlighted the "lot of balls hitting bodies" in the buildup, but it counted—
1-0 to the hosts.
Valencia, plagued by injuries to key players like Luis Díaz and others, struggled to respond early. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak was rarely tested, though Hugo Duro clipped the crossbar in a rare scare.
Simeone's changes were ruthless: Nahuel Molina started upfront due to suspensions, while veterans like
Koke anchored midfield. Atlético dominated possession but couldn't kill the game off.
Second Half Drama: Valencia Roar Back
The turning point came around the 60th minute. Valencia, injecting fresh legs with substitutes like Kenan Alamedin and Hugo Álvarez, unleashed a
wonderful counter finished with clinical precision—
1-1. Pundits called it "deserved," noting Atlético had "invited them in" with sloppy defending.
Suddenly, the game flipped. Alexander Sørloth missed a golden chance, denied by keeper Stole Dimitrievski (misnamed as Agira in highlights). Simeone sacrificed a winger for target man
Alexander Sørloth, ramping up the pressure.
Tension peaked with offside calls and pinball in both boxes. Griezmann, quiet until then, drew VAR scrutiny on a disallowed move—
a very good movement and control, per analysts—but the flag stayed down.
Griezmann's Heroics Seal the Deal
With time ticking away,
Griezmann delivered. His stunning late strike—a curling beauty into the top corner—sent the Metropolitano into rapture. Sky Sports dubbed it the
"stunning late winner", and it proved decisive.
Player ratings from Into the Calderon praised the
veterans: Griezmann, Simeone's old guard like Koke, and Álvarez shone brightest. Valencia's fight earned respect, but injuries and fatigue told.
Atlético's win extends their strong home form heading into the holidays. For Valencia, it's another setback in a tough season.
What This Means for LaLiga's Festive Fixtures
This result keeps Atlético breathing down Real Madrid's neck—job done, as commentators noted, even if it "wasn't the best evening." Griezmann's form is a massive boost; at 34, he's still the clutch performer Simeone dreams of.
Valencia coach faces tough questions: constant changes signal deeper issues. Fans will hope for reinforcements in January.
Key Takeaways:-
Griezmann: Match-winner, top ratings across boards.
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Injuries hurt Valencia: Multiple absences disrupted prep.
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Simeone's subs: Swapped wingers for physicality, paid off.
- Next up: Atlético host struggling sides; Valencia need points fast.
Football doesn't get more edge-of-your-seat than this. Atlético march on, but Valencia showed they can sting.
Sources
1. Atletico Madrid 2-1 Valencia | LaLiga 25/26 Match Highlights
2. Antoine Griezmann scores stunning late winner for Atletico Madrid ...
3. Ratings: Atlético veterans deliver holiday home win over Valencia
![[Griezmann's Stunning Late Strike Seals Tense 2-1 Thriller as Atlético Edge Valencia]](https://e0.365dm.com/25/12/1600x900/skysports-atletcio-madrid-griezmann_7109102.jpg?20251213161915)