Match Report: Hard-earned opening away win against Athletic Club (0-1)

Valencia CF visited Athletic Bilbao on Matchday 7 of LaLiga Santander at 1 pm on the 28th of September where Celades’side looked for an upturn in their fortunes on the road following back-to-back home draws.

Valencia had a strong start to the game enjoying the opening opportunity four minutes into the first half though Maximiliano Gómez after a great ball in by Daniel Wass but his shot went just wide.

Valencia CF were applying an early pressure upon Athletic Club and knocking the ball about well from the back. Aforementioned Maximiliano Gómez had another shot on goal after a great pass from Rodrigo Moreno who knocked in behind the defence but the Uruguayan’s effort spun over just shy of the tenth-minute mark.

Valencia CF were bringing all the menace to the opposition box through  intricate play and dangerous crosses into the Athletic Club box with the host being restricted to a few shots and the game being played at a high tempo at both ends.

 Ezequiel Garay had another sight of goal on 18 minutes but his show was seemingly tipped over by the Athletic Club keeper. Persistence paid dividends on 27 minutes following a clinical counter-attack that started off deep into the Valencia half, Rodrigo Moreno with a defense-splitting pass into Ferran who squared it into Denis Cheryshev on the slide for the Russian to side-foot it into the back of the net and give Valencia CF a much-deserved breakthrough.

Athletic applied pressure in the closing minutes of the first half working Cillessen through Iñaki Williams whose shot was turned behind for a corner and Raúl García whose header went off target.

Valencia CF edged ahead Athletic Club at the break courtesy of Denis Cheryshev's goal

Albert Celades made a like-for-like sub at the break bringing on Gabriel Paulista for Ezequiel Garay as Valencia CF came out looking to double their lead and they almost did through Maxi Gómez who was played through on goal by Rodrigo Moreno with the outside of his foot but was saved across the face of goal by Herrerín.

Japer Cillessen denied Iñaki Williams minutes later and then it came back off the upright on his second attempt and Francis Coquelin hooked it clear. Moments later Iñaki Williams dragged his shot wide.

Manuel Vallejo made his LaLiga debut for Valencia CF as Maximiliano made way and the Chiclana de La Frontera born almost made an instant impart carving through the Athletic defense to thread it into Cheryshev who brought a save of Herrerín inn a one on one across the keeper.   

Rubén Sobrio made his first LaLiga appearance of the season for Valencia CF. Rodrigo Moreno came mighty close to doubling Valencia CF’s lead  deep into stoppage time but it was blocked  by Yeray who through himself at the shot.

Valencia CF grinded out their opening away win and a hard-earned one it was. Valencia CF will be back in Champions League action against Ajax who are leading group H at 9 pm in ValenciaCF’s Champions League opener at Mestalla.

Match Details: 

0. Athletic Club: Unai Simón, Capa (Lekue, min. 82), Yeray, I. Martínez, Yuri B., Dani García, Unai López (Beñat, min. 60), Muniain, Raúl García, Ibai (Aduriz, min .60) and Williams.

1. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Garay (Gabriel Paulista, min. 46), Diakhaby, J. Costa, Coquelin, Parejo, Ferran, Cheryshev (R. Sobrino, min. 85), Rodrigo and Maxi Gómez (Manu Vallejo, min. 67).

Goals: 0-1, min. 26: Cheryshev.

Referee: Mario Melero López. Booked Unai López (49 ’), Aduriz (76’); and to the Valencianistas Cheryshev (19 ’), Rodrigo (33’), Diakhaby (45 ’), Cillessen (87’) and Wass (90 + 3).

Observations: Matchday 7 of LaLiga played before 42,420 spectators at the new San Mamés