Match Report: Away loss to Real Madrid (2-0)

Valencia CF travelled to the Spanish capital to visit Real Madrid CF on Sunday the 14th of February at the Alfredo di Stefano at 4:15 pm kick-off time on Matchday 23 of LaLiga Santander.

Valencia CF had a quiet start to the game with the host dictating play right from the off. Valencia CF were well-positioned at the back off the ball and looking to tore away on the break in possession.

Jaume Dòmench was called into action on eight minutes to stop a Casemiro effort from outside the box. He managed to stick a leg out.  Karim Benzema made it 1-0 to Real Madrid over the 10th-minute mark.

Valencia CF were looking to win the ball back and finding a foothold on the game after the goal while the home side were playing through Valencia CF moving the ball around quickly and finding gaps to play the ball into.

Gabriel Paulista made a vital last-ditch block to deny Karim Benzema a brace on the half-hour mark with Valencia CF struggling to make any inroads offensively and surrendering possession rather easily.

Toni Kroos made it 2-0 to Real Madrid in the closing minutes of the first half.  Valencia CF trailed Real Madrid  by 2-0 at half-time.

Gonçalo Guedes and Manu Vallejo were replaced by Yunus Musah and Kevin Gameiro. The first attempt on goal fell to Maxi Gómez with a venomous strike from a long way out which forced Thibaut Courtois into a full-stretch save on 53.

Valencia CF were surging forward at Real Madrid looking to reduce the two-goal deficit to get back in the match. Valencia CF were enjoying more of the ball in the opening minutes of the second half.

Real Madrid had a goal disallowed over the hour mark for a marginal offside against Ferland Mendy in the build-up.  Javi Gracia made a double substitution bringing on debutant Christian Oliva and Kang-In who replaced Daniel Wass and Carlos Soler respectively.

Patrick Cutrone replaced Maxi Gómez late on as Valencia CF. The game played out with no further incidents and Valencia CF fell to a 2-0 away loss to Real Madrid at the Alfredo di Stefano.

Valencia CF will welcome Real Club Celta Vigo on Saturday 21st of February at 6:30 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 24 of LaLiga Santander.

Match Details:

2. Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal (Lucas Vázquez, 28’), Varane, Nacho, Mendy, Kroos, Modric (Isco, 79’), Casemiro, Asensio (Sergio Arribas, 71’), Vini Jr. and Benzema (Mariano, 79’).

0. Valencia CF: Jaume Domènech, Thierry Correia, Gabriel Paulista, Ferro, Gayà, Racic, Carlos Soler (Christian Oliva, 64’), Wass (Kang In, 64’), Guedes (Yunus Musah, 46), Manu Vallejo (Gameiro, 46’) and Maxi Gómez (Cutrone, 83’).

Goals: 1-0 Benzema, 11’; 2-0 Kroos, 42’.

Referee: Sánchez Martínez. Booked Guedes, Racic and Thierry Correia.

Observations: Matchday 23 of LaLiga Santander held at the Alfredo di Stefano. A minute’s silence was observed ahead of kick-off in memory of late and former Real Madrid player Enrique Pérez Díaz ‘Pachín’.