Match Report: Valencia CF lose out away to Celta Vigo (2-1)

Valencia CF took on Celta Vigo on Saturday 19 of September at 9 pm kick-off time at Balaídos for their first outing of the season. Valencia CF had a slow start to the game with Celta Vigo in possession in the first minutes.

Iago Aspas made it 0-1 to Celta Vigo on the quarter-hour mark following a VAR review, but the Celta Vigo goal stood. Valencia CF tried to find a foothold in the game. Geoffrey Kondogbia tried his luck from outside the box but it flashed just wide of the post. 

Valencia CF enjoyed more of the ball with a series of dead-ball situations over the half hour mark but they did not trouble the Keeper while Celta Vigo were looking to hit Valencia CF on the break at every opportunity.

Maxi Gómez had a shot blocked in by Jason Murillo inside the box in the closing minutes of the first half. Daniel Wass enjoyed the final kick of the first half but his effort went off target.

The first half finished 0-1 to Celta Vigo with Iago Aspas’goal separating the sides at the Interval at Balaídos with all to play for in the second half.

Javi Gracia made a double swap at half-time with Kang In and Gonçalo Guedes making way for Jason Remesseiro and Manu Vallejo. 

Valencia CF had a dream start to the second half with Maxi Gómez hunting his former club with a quickfire equaliser just 40 seconds into the second half.

Jason Remesseiro rolled it wide into Wass who slipped it into Maxi Gómez who drilled it past Iván Villar to get Valencia CF back on level terms at Balaídos and pick up back-to-back LaLiga goals.

However, it was short-lived as Iago Aspas made it 2-1 to Celta Vigo only ten minutes later which buoyed the home side. Gabriel Paulista forced Ivan Villar into action with a header but the keeper palmed it over the bar over the hour mark.     

Valencia CF tried to equalise in a stretched final passage of play which saw the home side rattle the woodwork twice in the closing minutes. The game saw an end to end final spell with Valencia searching for the equaliser. 

Maxi Gómez drilled in a free-kick which was pushed wide by Ivan Villar. Valencia CF enjoyed a series of extra-time corner kicks in a dramatic ending to the game as Javi Gracia’s side came away empty handed from their opening LaLiga outing.

Valencia CF will welcome newly-promoted side SD Huesca at Mestalla on Saturday the 26 of September on matchday 3 of LaLiga Santander.  

  Match Details:

2. RC Celta Vigo: Iván Villar, Hugo Mallo, Murillo (Gabriel Veiga, 79 '), Aidoo, Lucas Olaza, Fran Beltrán (Okay Yokuslu, 66'), Renato Tapia (Néstor Araújo, 79 '), Denis Suárez (Baeza, 66 '), Emre Mor (Brais Méndez, 71'), Iago Aspas and Nolito.

1. Valencia CF: Jaume Domènech, Wass, Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Gayà, Esquerdo (Thierry Correia, 73 ') Kondogbia, Yunus Musah (Nephew, 11'), Guedes (Jason, 46 '), Kang in (Manu Vallejo, 46 ') and Maxi Gómez.

Goals: 1-0, Iago Aspas, 13 '; 1-1 Maxi Gómez, 46 '; 2-1 Iago Aspas, 56 '.

Referee: Gil Manzano booked Renato Tapia, Okay Yokuslu for Celta Vigo and Esquerdo for Valencia CF

Oberservations: Matchday 2 second day of LaLiga, played at Balaídos.