Valencia CF travelled North West to take on Celta Vigo at Balaídos at 9 pm kick-off time on Matchday 16 LaLiga Santander.  

Valencia CF were off to a nervy start in the game and looking to find a foothold in the early goings of the first half.    

Iago Aspas made it 1-0 to Celta Vigo over the ten-minute mark pouncing on a defensive let-off. Alas Valencia CF refused to back down and Hugo Duro enjoyed the first clear-cut Valencia CF chance on 17 minutes which was deflected into Dituro’s hands.  

Persistence paid dividends two minutes later as aforementioned Hugo Duro got his reward after forcing the keeper into a mistake bringing the ball out from the back and slotting it home beyond Dituro to get Valencia CF back on level terms on 19 minutes.   

After the goal, Valencia CF grew into the game and the contest evened out halfway through the first half.   

Valencia CF managed to withstand the home side’s attacks by defending resolutely at the back. The first half finished locked together at 1-1 with nothing to separate the sides at halftime.

Valencia CF came out in the second half looking to score and pile some pressure on the opposition defence. José Boradalás made a like-for-like change brining on Uroš Račić who replaced Koba Leïn.  

Moments later, José Luis Gayá won the ball back down the wing and delivered a teasing ball into Maxi Gómez who set himself up ahead of the defenders and fired it past Dituro to put Valencia CF in front on 52 minutes. 

Uroš Račić came close to getting in on the act after coming on with a powerful long-range effort which went a whisker wide of the post. 

Jasper Cillessen pulled off a superb stop to Santi Mina’s header to keep the scoreline at 1-2 under the hour mark. 

Valencia CF kept on pushing for a third goal. Carlos Soler’s left-footed shot blazed over the bar following Maxi Goméz’s fine return ball. The home side mustered an immediate response through Brais who went for the acrobatic but Cillessen was equal to it. 

José Bordalás made a triple substitution late on Yunus, Guedes and Marcos André came one to replace Maxi, Hugo Duro and Hélder Costa.  

The remainder of the half played out with no further incidents and Valencia CF managed to hold out to come away with a hard-fought and valuable away win over Celta Vigo at Balaídos.   

Match Details:

1. RC CELTA: Dituro, Kevin Vázquez, Aidoo, Néstor Araujo (Murillo, 74’), Javi Galán, Fran Beltrán (Nolito, 58’), Brais Méndez, Denis Suárez, Cervi (Augusto Solari, 58’), Iago Aspas (Renato Tapia, 15’) and Santi Mina.

2. VALENCIA CF: Cillessen, Piccini (Lato, 73’), Hugo Guillamón, Omar Alderete, Gayà, Koba Leïn (Racic, 52’), Carlos Soler, Wass, Hélder Costa (Guedes, 83’), Hugo Duro (Yunus Musah, 83’) and Maxi Gómez (Marcos André, 83’).

GOALS: 1-0 Iago Aspas, 11’; 1-1 Hugo Duro, 19’; 1-2 Maxi Gómez, 53’.

REFEREE: De Burgos Bengoetxea. Booked Fran Beltrán, Iago Aspas, Maxi Gómez, Gayà and Nolito.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 16 of LaLiga held at Balaídos, Vigo.