Julian Alvarez bagged a brace to take Atletico Madrid provisionally top of La Liga with a 3-0 win at Valencia on Saturday. Villarreal, fifth, kept the pressure on the top four with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano.

Julian Alvarez scored twice as Atletico Madrid downed struggling Valencia 3-0 to move, at least temporarily, top of LaLiga.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone heaped praise on his star forward Julian Alvarez after he scored twice in their 3-0 win at Valencia on Saturday.

Alvarez has played a key role in Atletico's bid for a third title under Simeone, with Saturday's brace taking him to nine league goals despite a slow start to his debut season

Diego Simeone says some at Atletico Madrid harboured doubts over signing Julian Alvarez, but he always knew the striker was the right fit.

Julian Alvarez scored twice to help Atletico Madrid win 3-0 at Valencia on Saturday and lift his team provisionally into first place of the Spanish league.

Atletico Madrid ended Valencia’s three-game winning home run by beating them 3-0 in today’s early evening La Liga action, provisionally sending themselves to the summit while increasing Valencia’s chances of a first demotion since 1986.

Atletico Madrid took provisional top spot in LaLiga with a comfortable 3-0 away win at a toothless Valencia on Saturday thanks to a first-half double by Julian Alvarez and a late strike by substitute Angel Correa.