Valencia CF welcomed Celta Vigo on Saturday 17th of September at 6:30 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 6 of LaLiga. 

Valencia CF had a slow start to the game and looking to find a foothold in the game by playing their typical possession football while the opposition tried to break forward in the first minutes of the game.  

Valencia CF continued to dictate possession and Samuel Lino came mighty close to opening the scoring following a pinpoint rabona clip towards the back post. Alas, Samuel Lino’s close-range header fizzed just wide of the post.  

Moments later, Giorgi Mamardashvili produced heroics at the other end by sticking out a firm hand to keep out Iago Aspas’ free-kick effort from outside the box just over the quarter-hour mark.  

Valencia CF Centre-back Mouctar Diakhaby nearly turned striker as the rattled the upright by poking goalwards pouncing on a loose ball from the ground halfway through the first half at Mestalla. 

Samuel Lino beat Aidoo for pace with a bursting run down the left flank and picked out his namesake Samu Castillejo who was loitering at the back post as the Celta keeper palmed  Lino’s cross-strike into his namesake’s path and Castillejo prodded the ball past Marchesín to put Valencia CF in front.  

Valencia CF edged out Celta Vigo at halftime by 1-0 scoreline at Mestalla.

The same script followed in the second half with Valencia CF enjoying more of the ball. Shortly after the referee waved away the appeal as Samu Lino went down under the challenge Aidoo and picked up a yellow card for simulation. 

Celta Vigo were reduced to ten men as Cervi was sent off for a straight red following a rash challenge on Thierry Correia on the hour mark.    

Valencia CF tried to make the numerical advantage pay as Gattuso shuffled his pack with Marcos André, Nico and Kluivert replacing Moriba, debutant Edinson Cavani and Samu Lino. 

Giorgi Mamarshvili pulled off yet another magnificent save to Larsen’s header to keep the scoreline at 1-0.  

José Luis Gayà came close to doubling Valencia CF’s advantage as he tried his luck with a powerful drive from outside the box forcing Marchesín into a save and then firing over the follow-up effort.     

Minutes late, Justin Kluivert was put through on goal with only the keeper to beat following a clever Marcos André pinpoint pass into his stride. Alas, Marchesín denied him what would have been his home debut goal.  

Marcos André doubled the advantage when pounced on a deflected ball in behind off of José Luis Gayà. The Brazilian set himself up and slotted it across Marchesín. 

Home debutant André Almeida rounded off the scoreline and marked his home debut with a wonder strike deep into stoppage time from close range on the turn and fired home past Marchesín as Celta Vigo fluffed their lines.    

Valencia CF returned to winning ways in a convincing manner against Celta Vigo as the game ended in a 3-0 home win for Valencia CF.  

Attentions turn to RCD Espanyol as Valencia CF will chase their maiden away win of the season against the “parakeets” at the RCDE Stadium after the LaLiga break.   

3. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R., Diakhaby, Cömert (Gabriel Paulista, 83'), Gayà (Lato, 83'), Hugo Guillamón, Ilaix Moriba (Nico, 66'), André Almeida, Samuel Lino, Samu Castillejo (Justin Kluivert, 70') and Cavani (Marcos André, 70').

0. RC CELTA: Marchesin, Hugo Mallo, Aidoo Jr, Javi Galán, Tapia, Fran Beltrán (Carles Pérez, 57'), Cervi, Óscar (Gabriel Veiga, 57'), Iago Aspas and Larsen (Luca de la Torre, 83').

GOALS: 1-0 Samu Castillejo, 37'; 2-0 Marcos André, 81'; 3-0 André Almeida, 93'.

REFEREE: González Fuertes (Asturian C.). Yellow cards for Hugo Guillamón, Fran Beltrán, Samuel Lino and Gabriel Veiga. Franco Cervi was sent off in 59'.

VAR: Jaime Latre.

OBSERVATIONS: LaLiga matchday 6 played at Mestalla.