VALENCIA, Spain -- A trio of observations on Valencia's 3-1 La Liga win vs. Atletico Madrid.
1. Valencia pass a big test
The old Mestalla had a fresh lick of paint for the first high-profile home game of the season, even if prospective owner Peter Lim was not present while his takeover remains to be finalised.
Nuno Espiritu Santo, Lim's chosen coach, had overseen an unbeaten start to the season, with loaned-in players including Rodrigo and Andre Gomes starting well and the mood around the club at its most optimistic for years.
The club turned into this mood with an impressive pregame mosaic, and there was even a brass band playing as the teams kicked off in front of a full house of almost 55,000 which, enthused by the team's excellent start to the season, got behind their team vocally.
The noise cranked up even further as the home side went 3-0 up inside 13 minutes. Atletico's defending was not good but Valencia's super-fast start put on the pressure that made that back line creak so badly.
In front after Miranda's shocking own goal, the hosts did not sit back and look to consolidate. Instead, just seconds later Gomes burst onto a Paco Alcacer flick and drove confidently at the middle of a statuesque Atletico defence before finishing superbly.
The third goal was also a statement of intent, as clever movement outfoxed Diego Simeone's dead-ball specialists at a corner, and Nicolas Otamendi got free to bullet his header to the net.
Valencia thus extended their run of scoring three goals to all four of their home games this season, and fans were bouncing on the ground's Curva Nord -- not even the most optimistic had seen this coming. There were even "oles" as their side passed the ball around at the back midway through the first half.
Coach Nuno came off the bench to shush those chants, though, wanting to ensure nobody got carried away just yet and, in an almost inevitably less dramatic second half, also tried to calm things on the pitch with his substitutions.
An increasingly nervous crowd howled in anguish every time referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes gave a decision against their side, but as the minutes passed the joy returned. The brass band were playing again through the final 10 minutes, while the black and white flags waved.
The final whistle brought further communion between players and fans, and there were also appreciative chants for their impressive new coach who, for the time being at least, had guided Valencia to the top of the La Liga table.
The club does still plan to finish their "Nou" Mestalla, and sell this ground for development but that plan looks a long way off, with Lim's final intentions still not clear. If Nuno's new team keep playing like this, the old ground will be cheering Champions League football again next season.
2. Atletico cannot recover after being caught cold
The demands of the Champions League were on the minds of Atletico-backing pundits before the game, with some wondering whether their side had had enough time to prepare mentally and physically since Wednesday's draining win at home to Italian champions Juventus.
Perhaps aware of this, Simeone made four changes to his starting lineup, including both full-backs, and handed a first Atletico start to the summer signing from Malaga, Jesus Gamez. Those adjustments were not the full reason for the visitors' slow start -- Valencia were brilliant in the first 15 minutes -- but it definitely did not help.
The last time Atletico were 3-0 down in a game so early was October 2008 at Barcelona's Camp Nou, which was over three years before Simeone took over and stiffened the mentality of everyone at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
That dedication was evident as Atletico battled their way into the game. They had already taken control of midfield before Tiago's 20-yard shot was spectacularly palmed out by Diego Alves straight to Mario Mandzukic, who nodded in for his fourth Atletico goal to reduce the arrears to 3-1.
The penalty they earned just before half-time had also been coming. Antonio Barragan got away with one handball in the area, but Jose Gaya's was seen by the officials. Guilherme Siqueira's spot kick, though, was saved by Alves -- his 13th La Liga penalty save - which took some wind out of the comeback sails.
Atletico kept going in the second half, with midfielders Koke and Tiago showing great spirit and heart to try to drag their team back into it. Substitute Alessio Cerci was also trying hard -- perhaps too hard.
The Italian was first booked for an overenthusiastic trip on Dani Parejo, then received a second yellow for controlling a cross with his arm. He finished smartly to the net and so many thought the goal would stand, but the officials had the call right and Atletico finished with 10 men.
Atletico losing their first La Liga game of the season is no disaster, but they also dropped points after the trip to Olympiacos on Champions League matchday 1, drawing 2-2 at home to Celta Vigo. There are signs it will be extra difficult for Simeone's side to repeat last year's assaults on both the European and domestic fronts.
3. Otamendi and Gomes impress
While there was attention on Spanish senior squad call-ups Rodrigo and Paco Alcacer, the standout player of Valencia's whirlwind start was another youngster.
Midfielder Gomes showed excellent control and composure to claim his second goal in seven games for his new club, and the 21-year-old Portugal international also demonstrated courage to help out in midfield as Atletico looked to come back.
However, nobody epitomised that battling spirit as much as Otamendi, who had a monstrous game in the middle of Valencia's defence. The Argentina international was everywhere, dominant in the air, aggressive in the tackle, fast across the ground and 100 percent sure his side were not going to let their lead slip.
He took responsibility to mark Miranda when Atletico did try to get their set piece machine working. The ex-Benfica man was also quick to rush in and defend his teammates whenever there was a flashpoint, something the home fans cheered especially loudly.
As well as his goal, Otamendi made a game-high 11 clearances and won a game-high five headed duels. It was a man of the match performance for the 26-year-old defender who, just seven games into this Valencia career, already looks like the team's real leader on the pitch.