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

Valencia CF welcomed Rayo Vallecano Madrileño on Monday the 3rd of April at 9 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 27 of LaLiga. 

Valencia CF started on the back foot with some defending to do in the early goings of the first half and only nine minutes into the first half Santi Comesaña made it 0-1 to Rayo Vallecano. 

The first Valencia CF chance fell to José Luis Gayà whose effort blazed over the crossbar following a ball recovery. Valencia CF tried to find a foothold in the game despite the early setback. 

Justin Kluivert came mighty close to equalising over the halfway point of the first half after getting on the end of a Jose Luis Gayà delivery from the left-hand side, but the Dutch forward was denied by the upright. 

The game saw a sloppy spell as Valencia CF tried to dictate play and make inroads going forward with clear-cut chances hard to come by for Valencia CF in the closing minutes of the first half.      

 Valencia CF trailed Rayo Vallecano by 0-1 at the interval at Mestalla.

Valencia CF came out in the second half looking to equalise with Samuel Lino dragging his effort wide of the post just seconds after the restart as they pilled pressure on the away side in the opening minutes of the second stanza.  

Valencia CF continued to dominate possession and pegged Rayo Vallecano back inside their own box but lacked cutting edge in the final third on the hour mark. 

 Rubén Baraja made a double substitution up front with Edinson Cavani and Hugo Guillamón making way for Hugo Duro and Samu Castillejo and the floodgates opened with Valencia CF making constant runs into the opposition box and enjoying a wealth of chances in the coming minutes.     

Justin Kluivert got ahead of his marker to force Dimitrievski into a stop with twenty minutes plus stoppage time left to play as the onslaught continued. 

Valencia CF were awarded a late spot-kick following a VAR check after an Hugo Duro header hit Balliu on the arm. The Dutchman stepped up and calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net to bring Valencia CF back on level terms.   

Giorgi Mamardahivili kept the scoreline at 1-1 with a superb reaction save to keep out Salvi’s effort. 

Valencia CF kept on pushing for the winning goal in stoppage time, but the game finished points shared at Mestalla.

Valencia CF will visit UD Almería on Sunday the 9th of April at 6:30 pm at the Power Horse Stadium 'Estadio de Los Juegos Mediterráneos on Matchday 28 of LaLiga in what will be a six-pointer to move up the table. 

MATCH SHEET:

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R., Diakhaby, Cenk, Gayà, Hugo Guillamón (Samu Castillejo, 62'), Nico (Yunus Musah, 46'), André Almeida (Ilaix Moriba, 88'), Justin Kluivert, Samuel Lino and Cavani (Hugo Duro, 62').

1. RAYO VALLECANO: Dimitrievski, Balliu, Lejeune, Catena, Fran García, Santi Comesaña, Óscar Valentín (Raúl de Tomás, 83'), Isi (Salvi, 83'), Álvaro García (Unai López, 59'), Óscar Trejo (Pep Chavarría, 65') and Camello (Abdul Mumin, 85').

GOALS: 0-1 Comesaña, 10'; 1-1 Justin Kluivert (p.), 82'.

REFEREE: Figueroa Vázquez. Yellow cards for Óscar Valentín, Thierry, Justin Kluivert, Balliu and Catena.

VAR: González González.

OBSERVATIONS: LaLiga Matchday 27 held at Mestalla.