MATCH REPORT | Valencia CF victorious in derby away to Levante UD (3-4)

Valencia CF took bragging rights in Spain’s third city with a win against Levante UD, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-4 at the Ciutat de Valencià. Gonçalo Guedes and Carlos Soler both struck twice in the turnaround, which led to the team’s fifth consecutive win in all competitions.

Levante UD's plan was to besiege Valencia CF from the opening moments, constantly bombarding the defence with crosses and balls over the top to find strikers Roger and Dani Gómez. In that spell a shot rebounded up onto Mouctar Diakhaby's arm, the referee consulting with VAR and awarding a penalty against Valencia CF.

Cillessen saved the spot kick, but taker Campaña put in the rebound to make it 1-0 to Levante.

Valencia CF reacted instantly, with a move in which José Luis Gayà got to the line and cut the ball across. An appeal for handball was waved away, and controversially Levante went on the counterattack; Roger Martí capped the move with the home team’s second goal.

Just before the break, Guedes reduced the lead with a rocket into the back of the net after a great solo move, as the game went into halftime 2-1.

After the interval, Valencia CF kept pushing. Five minutes into the second half, former VCF player Rubén Vezo brought down Hugo Duro inside the area, and Carlos Soler levelled the contest with a penalty.

The final stretch was where the action really turned in Valencia CF’s favour, and there was a notable debut for VCF Academy talent Rubén Iranzo along the way.

Soler put the team ahead for the first time with a strike into the top corner, capping his brace on his 200th appearance for the club.

Guedes put the win beyond all doubt in the 84th minute after shaking off defender Clerc and goalkeeper Cardenas, then converting into the empty net.

Ennis Bardhi scored in stoppage time for Levante, but Valencia CF claimed a 3-4 win against their crosstown rivals.

MATCH STATS

LEVANTE UD: Cárdenas, Marc Pubill, Óscar Duarte, Vezo, Clerc, Pepelu (Melero, 55’), Campaña, De Frutos (Cantero, 87’), Morales (Soldado, 76’), Dani Gómez (Bardhi, 76’) and Roger.

VALENCIA CF: Cillessen, Piccini (Rubén Iranzo, 72’), Diakhaby, Hugo Guillamón, Gayà, Racic (Yunus Musah, 89’), Carlos Soler, Hélder Costa, Cheryshev (Marcos André, 60’), Guedes and Hugo Duro.

GOALS: 1-0 Campaña, 21’; 2-0 Roger Martí, 24’; 2-1 Guedes, 43’; 2-2 Carlos Soler, 49’; 2-3 Carlos Soler, 72’; 2-4 Guedes 84’; 3-4 Bardhi, 90’.