Match Report: Hard-fought home win over CA Osasuna (1-0)

Valencia CF hosted Club Atletico Osasuna on Saturday the 11th of March at 9 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 25 of LaLiga.   

Valencia CF came out of the blocks and took charge of proceedings going in the game's early goings with Mouctar Diakhaby ruffling the side netting. Valencia CF tried to settle into the game in the next few minutes.    

The game saw a red card incident against Sergio Herrera for a challenge on the stretch on Hugo Duro overturned after a VAR review halfway through the first half in a heavily contested and frantic spell.  

Late on, Valencia CF came close to opening the scoring through Hugo Duro after being alert to a CA Osasuna let-off high up the pitch, but the Osasuna keeper turned the ball behind for a corner on the half-hour mark.   

Valencia CF kept on looking for the opening goal in the closing minutes of the first half with a series of forays forward and crosses into the opposition box that saw Cenk Özkacar nod the ball over the crossbar as Valencia CF lacked criticality in the final third. 

The first half finished goalless with all to play for in the second half.

Valencia CF started the second half on the back foot in the opening minutes of the second half struggling to get a foothold in the game.  

Rubén Baraja shuffled his pack with a like-for-like change with Samuel Castillejo making way for Samuel Lino just under the hour mark at Mestalla. 

Justin Kluivert broke the deadlock after a swift break following and CA Osasuna let-off  Samuel Lino smartly squared the ball into Justin Kluivert showed his composure and slammed the ball beyond Sergio Herrera. 

Rubén Baraja made a double change with Yunus Musah and Justin Kluivert making way for Ilaix Moriba and Thierry Correia. 

Hugo Duro came mighty close to doubling Valencia CF’s lead with a towering free header after a pinpoint Ilaix Moriba delivery which Sergio Herrera tipped over the crossbar in the 82nd minute.   

Jose Luis Gayà was on the wrong end of an Aimar Oroz rash tackle but the red card was downgraded to a yellow. Shortly after, Valencia CF were awarded a spot-kick. Alas, Hugo Duro failed to convert the resulting penalty in a nerve-jangling finale to the game. 

The scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF dug deep to grind out a massive home win to clamber out of the relegation zone with back-to-back home wins under Rubén Baraja.  

Valencia CF will visit Atletico Madrid on Saturday 18th of March at 9 pm on Matchday 26 of LaLiga at the Wanda Metroplitano in the club’s 104th year anniversary at the height of the Fallas festivities.  

MATCH SHEET:

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Diakhaby, Cenk, Gayà, Hugo Guillamón, Yunus Musah (Ilaix Moriba, 81'), André Almeida (Nico, 72'), Samu Castillejo (Samuel Lino, 58'), Justin Kluivert (Thierry R., 81') and Hugo Duro.

0. CA OSASUNA: Sergio Herrera, Moncayola (Aimar Oroz, 78'), Aridane, David García, Juan Cruz, Lucas Torró (Kike Barja, 78'), Moi Gómez, Pablo Ibáñez (Brasanac, 73'), Chimy Ávila (Nacho Vidal, 66'), Abde and Kike García (Budimir, 73').

GOALS: 1-0 Justin Kluivert, 73'.

REFEREE: Iglesias Villanueva. Booked David García, Juan Cruz, Chimy Ávila, Lucas Torró, Hugo Duro, Aimar Oroz and Gayà.

VAR: Cuadra Fernández (C. Balear).

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 25 of LaLiga played at Mestalla.