Match Report: Valencia CF lose out to FC Barcelona (2-3)

Valencia CF welcomed FC Barcelona on Sunday the 2nd of May at Mestalla at 9 pm kick-off time for the standout fixture on Matchday 34 of LaLiga Santander.

FC Barcelona put Valencia CF on the backfoot right from the off having to withstand the opposition momentum in the early goings of the first half staying really compact trying to leave no gaps making it difficult for the opposition to play through them with ease.

Jasper Cillessen pulled off a fine save from point-blank range to Ronald Araujo to keep the scoreline at 0-0. Valencia CF were defending resolutely and trying to hit the opposition on the counter-attack at every opportunity.  

The first Valencia CF chance fell to Uroš Račić who unleashed a slightly forceful first-time effort following a Jose Luis Gayà return ball from the by-line but the Serbian’s effort was gathered by Ter Stegen.

The first half finished goalless with nothing to separate the sides at halftime and all to play for in the second half.

Valencia CF came out in the second half looking to make inroads in the game and they nearly did, following a swift counter-attack Carlos Soler tore away and released Gonçalo Guedes who couldn’t put it beyond Ter Stegen.

Gabriel Paulista broke the deadlock from a corner kick delivery with an on-rushing bullet of a header to put Valencia CF in front on 50 minutes for his fourth goal of the season. Two minutes later, Gonçalo Guedes diagonal ball but Thierry Correia couldn’t quite meet it.

Valencia CF’s advantage was short-lived as the referee awarded FC Barcelona a spot-kick for a handball offence against Toni Lato only six minutes later. 

Jasper Cillessen produced a save to Messi’s spot-kick alas, he bundled it home on the follow-up.    

Antoine Griezmann made it 2-1 over the hour mark to FC Barcelona when Valencia CF were trying to settle into the game after FC Barcelona’s spot-kick equaliser. Messi made it 3-1 from a direct free-kick on 69 minutes.

Javi Gracia brought on Christian Oliva for Uroš Račić and Kevin Gameiro for Hugo Guillamón.

Minutes later, Carlos Soler arrowed it home past Ter Stegen to make it 2-3 with a scintillating screamer from 30 yards out to get Valencia CF back into the game.

Valencia CF kept on pushing for a late equaliser but the match ended in a 2-3 battling loss to FC Barcelona as the unbeaten home run stretching back to the turn of the year came to a close.

Valencia CF will welcome Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol on Sunday the 9th of May at 4:15 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 35 of LaLiga Santander in a must-win game in the final run-in of the season.

Match Details:

2. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Thierry Correia, Gabriel Paulista, Hugo Guillamón (Gameiro, 78’), Lato (Diakhaby, 64’), Gayà, Racic (Christian Oliva, 78’), Wass, Soler, Guedes and Maxi Gómez.

 3. FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Dest (Sergi Roberto, 74’), Piqué, Araújo, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, De Jong, Busquets, Pedri (Ilaix, 74’), Messi and Griezmann.

Goals: 1-0 Gabriel Paulista, 50’; 1-1 Messi, 58’; 1-2 Griezmann, 63’; 1-3 Messi, 69’; 2-3 Carlos Soler, 83’.

Referee: Sánchez Martínez. Booked Racic, Toni Lato and Ter Stegen.

Observations: Matchday 34 of LaLiga Santander held at Mestalla.