Gallagher, Alvarez get first Atletico goals in confident Valencia win

Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez netted their first Atletico Madrid goals as Diego Simeone’s side earned a comfortable 3-0 victory over Valencia on Sunday.

Antoine Griezmann tucked home the second for the dominant Rojiblancos at their Metropolitano stadium.

Gallagher first goal for Atletico Madrid pic.twitter.com/XAnpyecauI

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Atletico are unbeaten in their first five fixtures and level on 11 points with second-place city rivals Real Madrid and Villarreal, in fourth.

England international Gallagher, who arrived from Chelsea this summer, tucked home in the 39th minute after Rodrigo de Paul played him in with a clever pass that nutmegged a defender.

“Conor had a great game, he adds a lot of intensity to the match,” said Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Atletico stayed on top in the second half and Griezmann pounced from close range after 54 minutes.

Marcos Llorente crossed for Samuel Lino, who misjudged his effort and the ball bounced up off his shoulder, with Griezmann reading it faster than anyone else, to finish when it dropped for his second goal of the season.

Simeone brought summer arrival Julian Alvarez off the bench in the second half and the former Manchester City striker pounced late on to get his first goal in five appearances for his new club.

Atletico host RB Leipzig on Thursday in their Champions League opener.

“When you win everything is good, but what’s important is the game ahead… Thursday, and after that another game.

“We have to go game by game and win as many as possible and hope that takes us where we want to go.”