Match Report: Eventful stalemate at Mestalla (2-2)

Valencia CF welcomed 2019-2020 Copa del Rey winners Real Sociedad on Sunday the 11th of April at Mestalla at 4:15 pm kick-off time on Matchday 30 of LaLiga Santander.

The game saw a sloppy start to the game with both sides looking to get a foothold in the game. Valencia CF were pressing Real Sociedad high up the pitch. Maxi Gómez tried his luck from a free-kick on seven minutes.

Minutes later, Mouctar Diakhaby headed it over following a great Carlos Soler delivery. Aforementioned Maxi Gómez tried to lift it over Remiro who was off his line but it went narrowly wide of the target.  

Valencia CF were awarded a spot-kick over the halfway point in the first half for a handball offence against Gorosabel following a Denis Cheryshev whipped-in cross alas, Carlos Soler missed the resulting penalty.

Ander Guevara made it 1-0 at the other end only a few minutes later at the other end slightly against the run of play over the half-hour mark.

Alexander Isak made it 0-2 to Real Sociedad right before the half-time interval.  

The same script followed in the second half in terms of play with the away side enjoying possession and bringing menace going forward and Valencia CF sitting back and defending trying to settle into the game. 

Valencia CF found a way back into the game following a corner kick as Carlos Fernández stood on Gabriel Paulista’s foot and the referee awarded Valencia CF another penalty kick. Daniel Wass stepped up and sent Remiro the other way as he calmly dispatched it inside the far corner on the hour mark.

Javi Gracia made a double substitution bringing on Yunus Musah and Kevin Gameiro who replaced Uroš Račić and Denis Cheryshev respectively.

Valencia CF restored parity on 70 minutes following a magnificent set-piece delivery Carlos Soler played it short into Gonçalo Guedes who delivered a pin-point  cross into the box for an on-rushing Paulista who headed it into the bottom corner with an absolute bullet of a header.

Valencia CF were reduced to ten men as Maxi Gómez was dismissed for a double booking with little over ten minutes plus stoppage time left to play in the game for a swinging elbow on Ander Guevara. 

Valencia CF managed to hold out to claim a valuable point following a valiant second-half fightback in an eventful Sunday clash at Mestalla between the two most recent Copa del Rey winning sides.    

Valencia CF will visit Real Betis Balompié on Sunday the 18th of April at 6:30 pm kick-off time at the Benito Villamarín on matchday 31 of LaLiga Santander.

Match Details:

2. VALENCIA CF: Jaume Domènech, Thierry Correia, Diakhaby, Gabriel Paulista, Gayà, Racic (Gameiro, 64’), Carlos Soler, Wass (Christian Oliva, 94’), Cheryshev (Yunus Musah, 64’), Guedes (Lato, 85’) and Maxi Gómez.

2. REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro, Gorosabel, Aritz, Le Normand, Monreal, De Zarate (Sagnan, 46’), Guevara, Portu (Januzaj, 66’), Oyarzabal (Bautista, 88’), Isak and Carlos Fernández (Roberto López, 79’).

Goals: 0-1 Gorosabel, 33’; 0-2 Isak, 45’; 1-2 Wass (p. p.) 60’; 2-2 Gabriel Paulista, 72’.

Referee: Pizarro Gómez. Booked De Zarate, Cheryshev, Portu, Gabriel Paulista, Carlos Fernández, Monreal, Yunus Musah, Wass and Alexander Isak.  Sent off Maxi Gómez.

Observations: Matchday 30 of LaLiga Santander played at Mestalla. Valencia CF held a guard of honour for Real Sociedad ahead of their Sunday game at Mestalla, in recognition of their win in the rescheduled 2019/2020 Copa del Rey final.

The players wore black armbands, and a minute's silence was held in memory of Cipriano Gonzalez Rivero ‘Ñito,' a Valencia CF player between 1963 and 1966, as well as José María Abad Aparicio, a season ticket holder at the club for more than 70 years.