Match Report: Valencia CF fight back to rescue a draw in final home game (2-2)

Valencia CF welcomed Real Cub Deportivo Espanyol on Sunday 28th of May at 7 pm (local time) (Unified kick-off times) at Mestalla on Matchday 37 of LaLiga for the final home game of the 22-23 season.

Valencia CF had a strong start in the early goings of the game with Valencia CF youngster trying his luck right from the off. Minutes later, Javi Guerra followed suit with a long-range effort that whistled over the crossbar.

Valencia CF kept on probing and penning the opposition back. Valencia CF had a pinball opportunity going off target over the quarter-hour mark with Javi Guerra coming close to scoring.

Toni Lato latched onto a Javi Guerra ball who weaved his way down the channel and squared the ball into Toni who blazed the ball over the crossbar halfway through the first half at Mestalla.

Valencia CF were forced into an injury substitution over the half-hour mark with Toni Lato making way for Samuel Lino down the left-hand side.

Valencia CF youngster, Diego López broke the deadlock by reacting quickest to the rebound and poking it home in the 38th minute.  Alas, the joy was short-lived as César Montes made it 1-1 to RCD Espanyol in the 40th minute against the run of play.

The first half finished locked together at 1-1 at Mestalla with all to play for in the second half.

Valencia CF had a poor start to the second half, however, the maiden chance fell to Nico following a fine hold-up play as Nico collected the clearance. Things went from bad to worse when Martin Braithwaite made 1-2 to RCD Espanyol.

Rubén Baraja made a double change over the hour mark with Foulquier and Hugo Duro coming on for Nico and Thierry Correia.

Giorgi Mamardashvili kept the scoreline at 1-2 denying César Montes a brace two minutes later.

It was all hands on deck for Valencia CF for the remaining twenty minutes of the game. Alas, it was RCD Espanyol who were dominating and César Montes came close making it 3-1 but the goal was chalked off for.

Valencia CF Kept on pushing for the equaliser and they managed to rescue a point right at the death with a Samuel Lino wonder strike and the game finsihed points shared with a 2-2 scoreline in a dramatic contest.

Valencia CF will visit Real Betis Balompié in Seville on the final day of the season on Sunday, June 4th at 9 pm kick-off time at the Benito Villamarin on Matchday 38 of LaLiga.

Valencia CF will need to claim all three points in a must-win game as it will go down to the wire on the final day of the season.

MATCH SHEET:

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R. (Foulquier, 63'), Diakhaby, Gabriel Paulista, Gayà, Nico (Hugo Duro, 62'), Javi Guerra, Diego López (Cavani, 82'), Toni Lato (Samuel Lino, 34'), André Almeida and Justin Kluivert.

RCD ESPANYOL: Pacheco, Óscar Gil, César Montes, Sergi Gómez (Calero, 92'), Cabrera, Oliván (Pedrosa, 67'), Sergi Darder, Denis Suárez (Vinícius Souza, 67'), Nico Melamed (Braithwaite, 46'), Puado (Aleix Vidal, 84') and Joselu.

GOALS: 1-0 Diego López, 38'; 1-1 César Montes, 40'; 1-2 Braithwaite, 50'; 2-2 Samuel Lino, 93'.

REFEREE: Gil Manzano (C. Extremadura). Yellow cards for César Montes, Óscar Gil, Braithwaite and Aleix Vidal.

VAR: Del Cerro Grande

Observations: Matchday of the 37 of LaLiga played at Mestalla.

A minute's silence was observed ahead of kick-off in memory of late former Valencia CF player, Juan Muñoz Cerdà and Javier Martí a Valencia CF fan who passed away following the game against Real Madrid CF.