Match Report: Valencia CF and Athletic Club play out goalless draw (0-0)

Valencia CF travelled up north to the Basque Country to take on Athletic Club on the road at 4:15 pm kick-off time at the Estadio Nuevo San Mamés on Matchday 35 of LaLiga Santander.    

Valencia CF had a quiet start to the game with the opposition dictating possession and the tempo of the encounter in the early goings of the match. 

The first Valencia CF chance fell to Carlos Soler who tested Unai Simón from a free kick, but his effort was comfortably gathered by the Athletic Club guardian.  

Valencia CF found a foothold in the game over the quarter-hour mark with further forays forward.  

The game saw a spell of tussles for the ball with no side able to get going attacking wise on the midway point of the first half.  

Giorgi pulled off a splendid stop to deny Iñaki Williams' forceful effort to keep it locked together at 0-0 over the half-hour mark.

Valencia CF were forced into an injury substitution on the stroke of half-time Gabriel Paulista was stretchered off the pitch and replaced by Hugo Guillamón. 

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

The second period started at a high tempo with the opposition taking the initiative and enjoying more possession in the opening stages of the second stanza.  

Giorgi Mamardashvili produced heroics sticking to his trade and made a stunning reaction save to deny Iñaki Williams in a one on one situation by sticking out a foot in the nick of time.   

Uroš Račić came mighty close to scoring with a textbook header that blazed over the crossbar past the hour mark at the Nuevo Estadio San Mamés.  

Valencia CF were reduced to ten men late on in the game as Hugo Guillamón was sent off for a double booking deep into stoppage time. 

Both sides kept on pushing for the winning goal in the scrappy closing stages of the game. Alas, the game finished honours even between Valencia CF and Athletic Club in a hard-fought affair.  

Valencia CF will host Real Betis Balompié on Tuesday, May 10th at 7 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 35 of LaLiga Santander. 

MATCH DETAILS:

 0. ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón, De Marcos (Petxa, 83’), Yeray, I. Martínez, Yuri, Vesga (Zarraga, 81’), Dani García (Unai Vencedor, 46’), Williams Jr (Berenguer, 64’), Muniain, Raúl García (Villalibre, 64’) and Iñaki Williams.

0. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R., Foulquier, Gabriel Paulista (Hugo Guillamón, 45’), Omar Alderete, Jesús Vázquez, Diakhaby, Carlos Soler (Yellu, 96’), Ilaix Moriba (Racic, 66’), Yunus Musah (Guedes, 66’) and Maxi Gómez.

REFEREE: Díaz de Mera. Booked Yeray Álvarez, Diakhaby, Ilaix Moriba, Iñaki Williams, Óscar de Marcos and Unai Simón. Sent off Hugo Guillamón for a double booking in the closing minutes.

VAR: Iglesias Villanueva.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 35 of LaLiga held at the Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao.