MATCH REPORT: Valencia CF lose out late on to Real Betis

Valencia CF played their rescheduled LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 1 game against Real Betis on Tuesday night at Mestalla, and fell to a 0-1 defeat through a late goal from the visitors.

Carlos Corberán’s men started with great energy and intensity, resulting in the first attack going Valencia CF’s way. A combination between Hugo Duro, Javi Guerra, and Ryunosuke Sato ended with the Japanese player's shot going wide of goal.

Moments later, Valencia CF created a double opportunity: first, Arnaut Danjuma shot from inside the penalty area, but the Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valle made the save. Ryunosuke pounced on the rebound, but was denied by a diving save.

Valencia CF pressed down the right flank, with Pablo Maffeo pushing forward and Sato cutting inside, and they also imposed a high tempo on the game. Gradually, possession became more even, although neither team went on to any real scoring opportunities before the break.

SECOND HALF

Just seconds after the restart, Valencia CF threatened the Betis goal with a move by Jesús Vázquez that Ryunosuke went to finish, but a Real Betis defender blocked the shot. Luis Rioja, Filip Ugrinic, and Umar Sadiq all entered the game thereafter.

The home side tried to control possession, although they had to be wary of Betis on the counter-attack.

Betis’ LaLiga debutant Troy Parrott had a dangerous opportunity to put his team ahead, although he struck off target. A move between Guido Rodríguez and Ugrinic followed for Valencia CF, with the Swiss player sending in a low cross that no one could get a touch on.

After eighty minutes, Real Betis scored the only goal of the match off a counterattack down the wing by Fran García, who delivered into the box for Pablo García to convert.

The response was a Sadiq one-on-one opportunity in the visitors' penalty area that Valles won. The Nigerian striker then almost scored after a pass from Jesús Vázquez, and before the final whistle Ugrinic tried his luck with a shot from outside the box that went wide.

Following the 0-1 defeat, Valencia CF will now move on to A Coruña on Sunday, where they face RC Deportivo de A Coruña at ABANCA-Riazor.

MATCH STATS

0. VALENCIA CF: Dimitrievski, Maffeo (Ugrinic, 55’), Tárrega, Pepelu (Otorbi, 88’), Diakhaby, Jesús Vázquez, Danjuma (Rioja, 55’), G. Rodríguez © (Dieng, 88’), Ryunosuke, Hugo Duro (Sadiq, 55’) y Javi Guerra.

1. REAL BETIS: Á. Valles, Llorente R. ©, Facundo, Antony, P. Fornals (P. García, 79’), C. Hernández (Parrott, 71’), A. Ortiz (Bellerín, 71’), V. Gómez, Riquelme (Isco, 59’), N. Deossa y J. Firpo (Fran García, 59’).

GOALS: Pablo García, 83’ (0-1).

REFEREE: Jon Ander González (C. Vasco). Amonestó a Ryunosuke y J. Firpo.