Match Report: Maxi Gómez strike helps VCF win in 2020 opener (1-0)

Valencia CF returned to action after the Christmas break to host SD Eibar on Saturday at Mestalla at 1 pm kick-off time on Matchday 19 of LaLiga Santander. Albert Celades’ looked to get off to a positive start to the turn of the year and decade to keep their unbeaten home run going.

Valencia CF had a bright start to the game playing their typical possession football while trying to open up the opposition.  

Rodrigo Moreno enjoyed the first chance of the game from point blank-range but he was flagged up for offside. Moments later, Ferran Torres flashed it narrowly wide of the far post after collecting a loose ball on the edge of the area.

Rodrigo Moreno threaded it into Maxi Gómez with a great through ball to run onto. He rounded Marko Dimitrovic and tucked it away but he was flagged up for offside on the 15-minute mark of the first half.

Valencia CF were clearly dominating, growing into the game and restricting SD Eibar to half chances. Halfway through the first half Rodrigo Moreno almost got on the end of a Maxi Gómez low cross across the face of goal.

Aforementioned Maxi Gómez headed Valencia CF in front with a towering header past Marko Dimitrovic and into the back of the net after a brilliant Daniel Wass delivery from the right-hand side on 27 minutes.

Maxi Gómez nearly played in Rodrigo Moreno but Cote cut it out ahead of Rodrigo Moreno over the half-hour mark. Moments later Jaume was called into action for the first time following a Pedro León long-range effort but he palmed it behind with a fine single-handed save to keep it at 1-0.

The first half-finished 1-0 for Valencia CF with Maxi Gómez’s header separating the sides at the interval at Mestalla.

Valencia CF came out in the second half looking to double their lead. However, it was SD Eibar who had the first chance of the second half when Bigas’ header came back off the crossbar.

The first chance of the game fell to Ferran Torres following a Maxi Goméz pass but his shot was deflected behind by a defender. Minutes later, Ferran Torres got on the end of a Dani Parejo cross but his header went inches wide of the far post.

Valencia CF upped the tempo and the chances searching for a two-goal cushion and they nearly did as they reversed the roles in a  carbon copy first-half chance  Rodrigo pickpocketed  Bigas and steered it back across the face of goal but Maxi Gómez could not quite reach it.

Jaume Domènech pulled off two sensational saves keeping out Charles Diaz header and  Pedro León’s effort with little over ten minutes plus stoppage time left to play in the match at Mestalla.   

Paulo Oliveira was sent off for a double booking for a kick on Dani Parejo to stop him gaining forward on 90 minutes but that did not matter as the final whistle was blown and Valencia CF took all three points in their  2020 opener as they extend their unbeaten home run.

Valencia CF will be in midweek action in the new-look Spanish Super Cup semi-final at the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia against Real Madrid on Wednesday the 8th of  January at 8 pm kick-off time (CET).

Match Details:

1. Valencia CF: Jaume Domènech, Wass, Diakhaby, Gabriel Paulista, Gayà, Coquelin (Cheryshev, 89 ’), Parejo, Ferran Torres, Carlos Soler, Maxi Gómez (Gameiro, 71’) and Rodrigo (Kondogbia, 83 ’).

0. SD Eibar: Dmitrovic, Tejero, Oliveira, Bigas, Cote, Sergio Álvarez (Atienza, 65 ’), Edu Expósito, Pedro León, Inui (De Blasis, 71’), Sergi Enrich, Charles (Quique, 82 ’).

Goals: 1-0 Maxi Gómez 27'.

Referee: Hernández Hernández booked Wass and Charles and sent off Paulo Oliveira for a double booking.

Observations: Matchday 19 of LaLiga Santander played on Saturday at Mestalla before 39,702 spectators.