Valencia CF visited RCD Mallorca on Saturday, the 26th of February at 2 pm kick-off time at the Visit Mallorca Estadi on Matchday 26 of LaLiga Santander.    

Valencia CF were off to a perfect start as Gabriel Paulista marked his return from injury with a superb wicked wonder strike into the top corner which went in off the woodwork from long range on his return to LaLiga action after nearly four months on the sidelines.  

The game saw a high tempo at both ends after the opening goal with Valencia CF looking to press high up the pitch and stifle the opposition to stop the opposition from tearing away on the break. 

Albeit, Valencia CF were made to defend deep in their own half following a series of set-pieces from the opposition under the half-hour mark. 

Moments later, Carlos Soler could not quite guide the ball on target after an intricate Yunus Musah run into the opposition box and the ball fizzed a whisker wide of the post.    

Hugo Duro came close to getting on the end of a Yunus Musa square ball after beating two RCD Mallorca defenders down the right wing. 

Valencia CF edged out RCD Mallorca at the interval by a 0-1 scoreline.

Valencia CF had a positive start to the second half. Carlos Soler tried his luck on the turn after a Bryan Gil pass but his effort went off target and minutes later, Hugo Duro quite direct his header on target.  

José Bordalás shuffled his pack with Hugo Duro making way for Ilaix Moriba who almost had an instant impact with a powerful header at the front post which was turned behind for a corner kick by Sergio Rico. 

Valencia CF’s goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, responded at the other end keeping with another brilliant save over the hour mark as Valencia CF looked to find a foothold in the second half.  

Valencia CF were reduced to ten men in stoppage time but managed to hold out to return to winning ways and keep a clean sheet to come away with a hard fought yet morale boosting win ahead of the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at Mestalla in midweek.  

MATCH  DETAILS: 

0. RCD MALLORCA: Sergio Rico, Maffeo (Giovanni González, 62’), Valjent, Raillo, Jaume Costa, Sánchez (Kang In, 71’), Salva Sevilla (Abdón Prats, 79’), Take Kubo, Dani Rodríguez (Sedlar, 71’), Ángel (Amath Diedhiou, 62’) and Muriqi.

1. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Diakhaby, Gabriel Paulista, Omar Alderete, Yunus Musah (Hélder Costa, 77’), Foulquier, Carlos Soler (Cömert, 91’), Racic (Hugo Guillamón, 77’), Bryan Gil (Marcos André, 91’), Maxi Gómez and Hugo Duro (Ilaix Moriba, 58’).

GOALS: 0-1 Gabriel Paulista, 3’.

REFEREE: Figueroa Vázquez. Booked Take Kubo, Bryan Gil, Alderete, Diakhaby, Mamardashvili, Valjent, Jaume Costa and Raillo. Sent off Luis García Plaza and Ilaix Moriba for a double booking. 

VAR: Medié Jiménez.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 26 of LaLiga held at the Visit Mallorca Estadi.