Match Report: Away draw to Rayo Vallecano (1-1)

Valencia CF visited Rayo Vallecano de Madrid on Monday Night Football on the 11th of April at 9 pm at kick-off time at the Estadio de Vallecas on Matchday 31 of LaLiga Santander.

Valencia CF had a positive start to the game playing a possession-based football and looking to open up the opposition defence.

The game saw a cagey passage of play with both sides struggling to get going over the quarter-hour mark. 

Valencia CF settled into the game over the midway point in the first half with Gonçalo Guedes testing Dimitrievski from long range. Moments later, Giorgi Mamardashvili pulled off a superb reaction stop to deny Isi Palazón by sticking out a strong hand down low to his left-hand side. 

The remainder of the half played out with no further incidents and the first half finished goalless with nothing to separate the sides at half-time and all to play for in the second half at the Estadio de Vallecas. 

José Bordalás made a double substitution at the interval with Hugo Duro and Ilax Moriba making way for Marcos André and Dimitri Foulquier respectively. 

Valencia CF had a quiet start to the second half as roles reversed with the opposition enjoying more of the ball.

Carlos Soler broke the deadlock for Valencia CF with a wicked effort that looped over Dimtrieviski and in it went into the back of the net following a smart pull-back from Gonçalo Guedes into Carlos Soler who made it 0-1 for Valencia CF just under the hour mark.

Rayo Vallecano had a goal disallowed at the other end for offside against Pathé. The game opened up in an end to end spell at the Estadio de Vallecas.

Giorgi Mamardashviili produced heroics with a splendid save to deny Isi the equaliser. Minutes later, Uroš Račić came close to doubling Valencia CF’s lead but his shot fizzed wide of the mark.

Sergi Guardiola made it one apiece to Rayo Vallecano in the very next move. Both sides kept on pushing for the winning goal, but the scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF were held to a 1-1 away draw by Rayo Vallecano.

Valencia CF will host Club Atletico Osasuna on Saturday 16th of April at 6:30 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 32 of LaLiga Santander.

MATCH DETAILS:

1. RAYO VALLECANO: Dimitrievski, Balliu, Maras, Catena, Rodrigues (Nteka, 73’), Unai López (Ciss, 62’), Óscar, Isi, Álvaro, Sergi Guardiola (Mamadou Sylla, 91’) and Óscar Trejo (Bebé, 72’).

1. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R., Omar Alderete, Gabriel Paulista (Cömert, 85’), Gayà, Hugo Guillamón, Yunus Musah (Racic, 72’), Ilaix Moriba (Foulquier, 46’) Carlos Soler, Guedes (Jesús Vázquez, 81’) y Hugo Duro (Marcos André, 46’).

GOALS: 0-1 Carlos Soler, 57’; 1-1 Sergi Guardiola, 83’.

REFEREE: De Burgos Bengoetxea. Booked Unai López, Ilaix Moriba, Hugo Duro, Marcos André, Balliu, Thierry R and Catena.

VAR: Sánchez Martínez.

Observations: Matchday 31 of LaLiga held at the Estadio de Vallecas.