BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Atletico Madrid rested most of its starters but got goals from two debutants as it won 2-0 at Valencia on Saturday before it faces Arsenal for a place in the Champions League final.
Julián Álvarez, Alexander Sorloth and Giuliano Simeone, who all finished Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal with niggles, were among those players left off Atletico’s squad for the Spanish league game.
Atletico travels to London for the second leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.
Diego Simeone called up nine youth team players for the visit to Valencia, with Iker Luque and Miguel Cubo coming on in the second half and scoring in the 73rd and 82nd minutes for the win at Mestalla Stadium.
Atletico defender Nahuel Molina almost scored one of the goals of the season when he let rip a powerful strike from near the midfield circle that smacked the corner of the goal frame in the 19th.
Atletico remained in fourth place and on course for another Champions League berth next season. Valencia was 13th and still in danger of falling into a relegation battle.
Also, Villarreal guaranteed it will finish in the top four spots and play in Europe’s elite club tournament for a second straight season after routing Levante 5-1.
Georges Mikautadze scored a double for third-placed Villarreal.
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