Valencia will host Atletico Madrid at the Estadio de Mestalla in a La Liga encounter Sunday.
Barcelona have been extending their gap at the top of the La Liga points table and Atletico Madrid could well be 11 points adrift the table toppers even before they start their game against Valencia, as Barcelona face Eibar earlier in the day.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is aware of the fact and has said the team is in top shape, which will help them get a good result Sunday against Gary Neville's Valencia. This would reduce the gap between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona as well.
"We are still trying to surpass ourselves. We know it is very difficult a team as Barcelona will lose games, but we only think about ourselves," Simeone was quoted as saying by the official website of Atletico Madrid.
"We will prepare according to what we have. We have these days to prepare for the game against Valencia, which is obviously a very complicated match.
"We are looking to get stronger for what is left of the championship. What matters in football is to win."
Meanwhile, Valencia have lost only one out of their last seven matches across all competitions. Their win against Malaga have pushed them into the top half of the points table for the first time in this ongoing season.
Valencia manager Gary Neville could have lost his job in no time after his side was doing poorly. But after their 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey semi-final (second leg), things started to look up.
The hosts have lost just one out of their last 12 encounters against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio de Mestalla. Valencia have emerged victorious seven times out of these matches. However, Atletico Madrid have got the better of Valencia in their last three encounters.
On paper, Atletico Madrid is the stronger side but it will cagey contest between these two teams. Simeone has also agreed that it is surely going to be a tough game Sunday against Valencia.
Possible XI's:
Valencia: Alves; Barragan, Mustafi, Santos, Gaya; Parejo, Fuego, Gomes; Feghouli, Alcacer, Cheryshev.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Luis; Koke, Gabi, Augusto; Saul, Torres, Griezmann.
Where to Watch Live:
Valencia vs Atletico Madrid is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CET (1:00 a.m. IST, 7:30 p.m. GMT, 2:30 p.m. ET) start, with live TV coverage in India on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD. Viewers in India can also watch the match via live streaming online on Sony Liv.
Audience in Spain, can catch the match Valencia vs Atletico Madrid live on Abono Futbol 1 and Movistar Futbol.
Fans in UK can watch Valencia vs Atletico Madrid live on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports HD 2. Live streaming option will be available on SkyGo.
Bein Sports will broadcast the La Liga match between Valencia and Atletico Madrid live on TV in Australia, USA, Canada, the Middle East and North Africa, while the live stream option is on Bein Sports Connect.
