Match Report: Hard-fought win at Mestalla

Valencia CF were back in domestic action against Deportivo Alavés on Saturday the 5th of October at Mestalla at 6.30 pm on matchday 8 of LaLiga Santander. Valencia CF were playing their typical possession football following some fast-paced opening minutes.

Rodrigo Moreno had the first chance for Valencia CF with a header from a corner kick. Minutes later, Maxi Gomez nearly got on the end of a Denis Cheryshev flick-on but former Valencia CF keeper Antonio Sivera palmed to safety.

Maxi Gomez gave  Valencia CF the breakthrough over the halfway mark of the first half following a magnificent team move bringing the ball out from the back. Rodrigo Moreno threaded it in between two Alavés defenders for Maxi Gómez to latch onto and slid it across the keeper into the bottom left corner.

The Uruguayan saw a powerful low shot blocked at the near post by Sivera over the half-hour mark while playing wonderful passing football, dictating the tempo of the game and trying to double their lead.

Rodrigo Moreno fizzed an effort just wide of the post in the closing minutes of the first half. The first half finished 1-0 for Valencia CF Celades’ side edged Alavés ahead through Maxi Gómez.        

Valencia CF were put on the back foot by Alavés who were pressing high up the field and tested Jasper Cillessen through Joselu and Lucas Pérez but the Dutch keeper was equal to them to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

Rodrigo Moreno made way for Manuel Vallejo on the hour mark. Valencia CF upped the tempo looking to extend their lead in a good attacking spell and they did late on in the match as Sivera clipped Parejo’s heels and felled him as he was racing his way into the box.

The referee pointed to the spot and after a long VAR review, the spot-kick was finally awarded. The captain stepped up and tucked it away in style clipping the ball up and over the keeper to put Valencia CF two goals to the good.

Jasper Cillessen pulled off a magnificent save to Joselu’s volley but Lucas Pérez bundled it home on the follow-up. There were no more twists in the tale and Valencia CF took all three points before the international break.

Valencia CF will visit Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on the 19th of September at 4 pm kick-off time on matchday 9 of LaLiga Santander where they will look to pick up back-to-back wins on the road in Madrid.

Match Details:

2. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Garay, G. Paulista, J. Costa, Parejo, Coquelin, Cheryshev (Rubén Sobrino, m. 91), Ferran (Diakhaby, m. 69), Rodrigo M. (Manu Vallejo, m .59) and Maxi Gómez.

1. Deportivo Alavés: Sivera, Ximo Navarro (Aleix Vidal, m. 73), Laguardia, R. Ely (Borja Sainz, m. 83), R. Duarte, Manu García, T. Pina (Pere Pons, m. 20) , Burke, Luis Rioja, Lucas Pérez and Joselu.

Goals: 1-0. M. 26: Maxi Gómez. 2-0 M. 82: Parejo (p) 2-1. M. 89: Lucas Vázquez.

Referee: Prieto Iglesias, from the Navarre committee. He booked Wass for Valencia CF, and R. Duarte, Manu García and Sivera for Deportivo Alavés.

Observations: Matchday 8 of LaLiga, played this Saturday at 6.30 pm at Mestalla before 38,943 spectators.