Match Report | Valencia CF lose out to Nottingham Forest in commemorative friendly at Mestalla (1-2)

Valencia CF took on Nottingham Forest Football Club on Friday 16th of December at 7:30 pm kick-off time (CET) as part of the Mestalla centenary celebrations in yet another World Cup break friendly. 

Valencia CF dictated both play and tempo in the early goings of the game pressing high up the pitch and playing possession football trying to open up the tight Nottingham Forest backline. 

Valencia CF kept on probing and searching for the opening goal in a one-way traffic spell at the half-hour mark. Minutes later, Giori Mamardashvili denied Yates with a brilliant stop and then Marcos André responded at the other end with a header which went off-target.

Alas, it was Nottingham Forest who broke the deadlock against the run of play through a Taiwo Awoniyi open goal in the 40th minute of the game following a hapless let-off at the back.

Valencia CF trailed by a 0-1 scoreline at halftime at Mestalla. 

Gennaro Gattuso fielded a second-half lineup which saw the return of Valencia CF defender Mouctar Diakhaby following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a muscle injury.

Valencia CF were quick off the blocks looking for the equaliser. The first chance of the second half fell to Yunus Musah whose effort blazed over the crossbar.

Samuel Lino came mighty close to making it 1-1 following a fine Toni Lato move to set up Lino, but his effort whistled over the crossbar.

Hugo Duro made it 1-1 following an intricate exchange between Yunus Musah and Fran Pérez. The youngster squared the ball into Hugo Duro’s path who slammed the ball past Dean Henderson under the hour mark.  

 Valencia CF kept on dominating possession and after the equaliser and tried to get in front.

Alas, Emmanuel Dennis made it 1-2 to Nottingham Forest in the 68th minute pouncing on another hapless defensive let-off at the back. 

The game saw an end-to-end spell in the closing stages with both sides trying to score. The scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF fell to a narrow loss as Valencia CF’s friendly winning run came to a close. 

Valencia CF will host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday the 22nd of December at 12 pm kick-off time at the Ciudad Deportiva.

1. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Gabriel Paulista, Cenk, Gayà, Nico, Ilaix Moriba, André Almeida, Samu Castillejo, Justin Kluivert and Marcos André. Also played: Iago Herrerín, Thierry R., Diakhaby, Cömert, Lato, Yunus Musah, Hugo Guillamón, Fran Pérez, Samuel Lino, Hugo Duro, Cavani.

2. NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Henderson, Cook, Worrall, Mangala, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White, Lingard, O'Brien, Toffolo, Yates and Lodi. Also played: McKenna, Boly, Dennis, Scarpa, Mbe Soh.

GOALS: 0-1 Awoniyi, 39'; 1-1 Hugo Duro, 57'; 1-2 Dennis, 68'.

REFEREE: Carlos Del Cerro Grande. Yellow cards for Awoniyi.

OBSERVATIONS: Friendly match to commemorate the centenary of Mestalla. Before kick-off, a minute's silence was observed in memory of Baltasar Alemany, a Valencia CF director under the presidency of Ramos Costa in the 1970s.