Correa sends Atletico past Valencia

Madrid : Atletico Madrid maintained their nine-point gap behind La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 1-0 victory over Valencia at the Wanda Metroploitano on Sunday.

Angel Correa’s stinging strike from distance near the hour mark was enough to put Diego Simeone’s ahead of upstart Valencia, who remain in third place despite the loss.

Diego Costa against started up top for the Rojiblanco, but it was the little Argentine forward who lifted his side after 59 minutes.

Picking up a ball on the right channel, and with a settled Valencia back four ahead of him, Correa unleashed a perfectly hit 25-yard strike into the top corner that left Los Che goalkeeper Neto no chance before bulging the net.

Atletico improve to 49 points from 22 matches with the win, while Valencia remain on 40.

Atletico Madrid will next face Malaga at La Rosaleda on Saturday. Valencia will welcome Barcelona for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Aug. 8, then host Levante in the league the following Sunday.