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

Valencia CF welcomed LaLiga newcomers Rayo Vallecano on Saturday 27th of November at 4:15 pm kick-off time on Matchday 15 of LaLiga Santander. 

Valencia CF had a slow start to the game and looking to find a foothold in the early goings at Mestalla with no side able to make inroads going forward. 

Valencia CF had a spot-kick review for an Esteban Savelchich clumsy challenge on Hugo Duro inside the 18-yard box. The referee awarded the penalty and spot-kick specialist, Carlos Soler stepped up and slammed it past Stole Dimitrievski over the quarter-hour mark.   

Valencia CF settled into the game after Carlos Soler’s opening goal as the opposition refused to back down and enjoyed chances from set-pieces in a start-stop passage of play over the half-hour mark.  

Valencia CF came mighty close to doubling their lead on the stroke of halftime following a fine link-up play between Gonçalo Guedes Carlos Soler who could not quite sort his feet out after a clever cut-back. 

Valencia CF edged Rayo Vallecano in an incident-packed opening half at Mestalla. 

Valencia CF had a brighter start to the second half with Goçalo Guedes firing just past the far post following Hugo Guillamon’s scooped pass over Rayo Vallecano. 

Moments later, Hélder Costa had a vital goalline last-ditch piece of defending to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

José Bordalás made an attacking substitution over the hour mark bringing on Maximiliano Gómez for Gonçalo Guedes. Alas, Isi Palazón made it 1-1 to Rayo Vallecano on the follow-up from point blank range.

Valencia CF provided an instant response at the other through Carlos Soler who brought a fine save out of Stole Dimitrievski and Hugo Guillamón came close to scrambling home but the ball went out of play.

Both sides kept on pushing for the winning goal in the closing minutes of the second half. Dimitri Foulquier forced Dimitrievski into another save after a great effort that was turned behind for a corner kick on 80 minutes. 

José Bodalás made two double attacking substitutions in the manner of Denis Cheryshev and Yunus Musah for Daniel Wass and Hélder Costa and then Koba Leïn and Marcos André replaced Hugo Duro and Hugo Guillamón respectively. 

Marcos André had an effort that blazed over the crossbar on the stroke of regulation time.

The scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF registered their third consecutive draw in as many games.

José Bordalás’ side will face CD Utrillas at Campo Fútbol La Vega on Thursday 2nd of December at 7:30 pm kick-off time in the first round of the Copa del Rey. 

Match Details:

 1. VALENCIA CF: Cillessen, Foulquier, Diakhaby, Omar Alderete, Gayà, Hugo Guillamón (Koba Leïn, 87’), Wass (Yunus Musah, 81’), Carlos Soler, Hélder Costa (Cheryshev, 81’), Guedes (Maxi Gómez, 62’) y Hugo Duro (Marcos André, 87’).

1. RAYO VALLECANO: Dimitrievski, Balliu, Saveljich, Catena, Fran García, Unai López (Pozo, 59’), Óscar (Rodrigues, 90’), Santi Comesaña, Isi (Andrés, 78’), Álvaro y Sergi Guardiola (Bebé, 78’).

GOALS: 1-0 Carlos Soler (p), 19’; 1-1 Isi, 63’.

REFEREE: Hernández Hernández. Booked Saveljich, Carlos Soler, Diakhaby, Omar Alderete, Santi Comesaña, Gayà, Isi, Foulquier, Wass and Catena.

VAR: González González.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 15 of LaLiga held at Mestalla.