Match Report | Valencia CF lose out away to Athletic Club (1-0)

Valencia CF took on Athletic Club on the road at the Estadio Nuevo San Mamés on Sunday the 21st of August at 5:30 pm kick-off on Matchday 2 of LaLiga and their first away game of the 2022-2023 season.

The game saw a high tempo start at both ends in the early stages of the first half. Giorgi Mamardashvili produced heroics when he denied Berenger in a one-on-one situation with a magnificent stop. 

Minutes later, Valencia CF were forced into an early injury substitution Hugo Duro made way for fellow forward Maxi Gómez over the quarter-hour mark.

Valencia CF grew into the game and even enjoyed a couple of chances through Samu Castillejo who got two quickfire shots off target from outside the box on the midway mark of the first half.

Valencia CF showed their stalls out as the opposition had a spell of dominance over the half-hour mark

Álex Berenguer made it 1-0 to Athletic Club in the dying embers of the first half.

Valencia CF trailed Athletic Club by 1-0 at halftime.

The same script followed in the early goings of the second half. Albeit Valencia CF enjoyed further forays forward under the hour mark as they looked to get back on level terms.

Gennaro Gattuso made a double substitution bringing on Toni Lato and Nico González who replaced Jesús Vázquez as they upped the ante with twenty minutes plus stoppage time left to go.

Both sides kept pushing to score in the game's final minutes, including a Marcos André chance which was mighty close, but the scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF fell to a 1-0 away loss to Athletic Club.

Valencia CF will welcome Atletico  Madrid on Monday night football on the 29th of August at 10 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 3 of LaLiga.

1. ATHLETIC CLUB. Unai Simón, Óscar de Marcos, Vivian, Yeray Álvarez, Yuri Berchiche, Sancet (Vencedor, 74’), Mikel Vesga, Nico Williams (Capa, 92’), Álex Berenguer (Zarraga, 64’), Iker Muniain (Raúl García, 74’) and Iñaki Williams (Morcillo, 92’).

0. VALENCIA CF. Mamardashvili, Thierry R. (Foulquier, 74’), Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Jesús Vázquez (Lato, 62’), Hugo Guillamón (Marcos André, 74’), Yunus Musah (Nico, 62’), Carlos Soler, Samu Castillejo, Samuel Lino and Hugo Duro (Maxi Gómez, 17’).

GOALS: 1-0 Berenguer, 43’.

REFEREE: Soto Grado (C. Riojano). Yellow cards; Vivian, Yunus Musah, Muniain, Unai Simón, Yuri Berchiche y Yeray Álvarez.

VAR: Medié Jiménez (C. Catalán).

Matchday 2 of LaLiga played at Estadio Nuevo San Mamés (Bilbao).