Match Report: Valencia CF held to last gasp draw at San Mamés (2-2)

Valencia CF travelled to the Basque Country to face Athletic Club on Sunday the 29th of October at 6:30 pm kick-off time at the Estadio Nuevo San Mamés on Matchday 11 of LaLiga Sports.

Valencia CF had a positive start to the game with the first meaningful chance of the game falling to Hugo Duro who headed it over the crossbar at the back post in the 4th minute of the first half.

Diego López got ahead of Imanól and delivered a low cross which was picked up by Selim Amallah who had his drive scrambled away by De Marcos just under the quarter-hour mark at San Mamés.

The game saw an end-to-end stint as momentum swung in the opposition’s favour halfway through the first half with Iñaki Willmas forcing Giorgi Mamrdashvili into a superb save and yet again late on denying him in a one-on-one situation.

Óscar De Marcos made it 1-0 to Athletic Club over the half-hour mark. Minutes later, Hugo Duro came mighty close after a threaded ball into Hugo Duro whose effort was palmed behind by Unai Simón.

Valencia CF kept on pushing for an equaliser as Selim Amallah’s long-range low drive was kept out by Unai Simón who stuck out a leg.

Valencia CF trailed Athletic Club at half-time by a 1-0 scoreline with all to play for in the second half.

The second half followed the same script with an end-to-end start at San Mamés with both sides looking to score right from the off.

Valencia CF struggled to settle into the second half in terms of possession despite enjoying a few promising forays forward into the opposition box early into the second stanza at the Nuevo San Mamés.

Giorgi Mamardashvili denied Dani García with a superb save from the Gerorgian guardian who palmed the ball onto the crossbar to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

Fran Pérez got Valencia CF back on level terms with a clinical finish following a pinpoint control by Diego López who expertly brought the ball down and rolled it into Hugo Duro who threaded the ball into an onrushing Fran Pérez who slotted the ball away past Unai Simón.

Late on, Hugo Duro made it 2-1 with a nifty finish to put Valencia CF in front following a slick Fran Pérez return ball into Hugo Duro who expertly finished it off beyond Unai Simo’s reach to put Valencia CF in front.

 Rubén Baraja made a double change with Dimitri Foulquier and Sergi Canós coming on to replace Fran Pérez and Diego López respectively.

Giorgi Mamardahvili pulled off yet another top save to keep the scoreline at 2-1. Alas, there was a nasty twist to the tale when Athletic Club made 2-2 through Álex Berenguer in the dying embers of the game. 

The game finished two apiece as Valencia CF were held to a last-gasp draw by Athletic Club at San Mamés.

Valencia CF will be in Copa del Rey action on Thursday, November 2nd against UD Logroñes at the Estadio Municipal Las Gaunas at 8 pm kick-off time in their cup opener.

Match Sheet:

2. ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón, De Marcos, Vivian, Aitor Paredes (Prados, 65’), Imanol García, R. de Galarreta, Dani García (Vesga, 65’), Sancet (Muniain, 72’), Iñaki Williams, Nico Williams (Berenguer, 69’) and Guruzeta (Villalibre, 69’).

2. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R., Gabriel Paulista, Cristhian Mosquera, Gayà, Pepelu, Javi Guerra, Fran Pérez (Foulquier, 73’), Amallah (Sergi Canós, 59’), Diego López (Hugo Guillamón, 74’) and Hugo Duro (Yaremchuk, 78’).

GOALS: 1-0 De Marcos, 31’; 1-1 Fran Pérez, 62’; 1-2 Hugo Duro, 68’; 2-2 Berenguer, 97’.

REFEREE: Figueroa Vázquez. Booked Aitor Paredes, Dani García, Amallah and R. de Galarreta.

VAR: Prieto Igleisas.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 11 of LaLiga EA SPORTS held at the Estadio de San Mamés (Bilbao). Recently retired boxer Andoni Gago took honourary kick-off.