match report: valencia cf prove too strong for ud maracena

Valencia CF successfully navigated their first game of the 2025/26 Copa del Rey, beating UD Maracena 0-5 at the Nuevo Los Cármenes in Granada. Goals came from Hugo Duro, Dani Raba, Diego López, Luis Rioja, and Arnaut Danjuma, whilst Alejandro Panach and Lucas Núñez made their official debuts for Valencia CF.

The first chance of the match came three minutes in, as Otorbi carried the ball into the opposition half, passed to Raba, and the striker had his shot saved by the goalkeeper. A high press prevented UD Maracena from getting possession, and the next dangerous opportunity also fell to Valencia CF: Raba crossed from a corner and Hugo Duro shot off target.

Moments later, Panach came close to opening the scoring with a header from Almeida's corner, but nodded over the crossbar. 

On the half hour, Hugo Duro came very close to scoring the first goal of the game. Javi Guerra, celebrating his 100th official appearance for Valencia CF, connected with the forward, who finished off from inside the box with an effort that grazed the left post.

Jesús Vázquez then enjoyed two consecutive attempts. The first went over after a great move by an energetic Otorbi on the right flank. The second time around, Otorbi again crossed towards the penalty spot, and the fullback struck a shot that clipped Hugo Duro, and went out. 

After the halftime break, Javi Guerra had the first real chance of the second half with a hit from outside the box. Minutes later, the goal finally arrived: Almeida found Santamaría unmarked in the opposition area, and the French midfielder passed off to Hugo Duro to tap in.

Five minutes later, Carlos Corberán's team extended their lead thanks to a combination between  Duro and Raba, which the latter finished perfectly.

With more than sixty minutes gone, the third goal came from a counterattack in which Duro took a heavy blow to the ankle -he was subsequently substituted. Danjuma drove into the box and passed to Diego López, who knocked the ball into the net with ease. 

The fourth goal came from Luis Rioja, who shot low inside the right post, and the fifth was set up by Diego López and finished by Danjuma in the area.

Valencia CF will now visit Real Madrid CF at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, November 1st, on LaLiga Matchday 11.

MATCH STATS

0. UD MARACENA: David García, Juan José González, Rubén Alarcón, David Manuel Martín (Klyverson, 54’), Adrián Marfil (Camara, 66’), David Romero (L.Hayes, 66’), Antonio Salvatierra, Raúl Fernández © (Manuela, 66’), Rafa Moreno, Jesús Sabaca and Rubén Osuna (Reinoso, 77’).

5. VALENCIA CF: Dimitrievski, Rubo, Panach (M. Jurado, 88'), Cömert, J. Vázquez, Santamaría (Lucas Núñez, 70’), Javi Guerra (Danjuma, 61’), Otorbi (Diego López, 61’), Raba, A. Almeida and Hugo Duro © (Luis Rioja, 70’).

GOALS:  Hugo Duro, 55’ (0-1); Raba, 60’ (0-2); Diego López, 67’ (0-3); Luis Rioja, 74’ (0-4); Danjuma, 81’ (0-5).

REFEREE: Francisco José Hernández (C. Extremeño).