Match Report: VCF end home campaign with hard-fought win over RCDE (1-0)

Valencia CF welcomed already relegated Real Club Deportivo Espanyol on Thursday 16th of July at 9 pm kick-off time as part of a unified kick-off time at Mestalla on matchday 37 of LaLiga Santander.

Valencia CF had a really buoyant start to the game right from the off trying to dictate the tempo whilst enjoying possession. The first chance for Valencia CF fell to Ferran Torres but his effort went off target on five minutes.

Kang-In and Ferran Torres linked–up and forced Diego Lopéz off his line to clear the ball away over the 10-minute mark and Espanyol came close to scoring  just a minute later at the other end but his effort sailed over the crossbar. 

Kevin Gameiro drew first blood following a Gonçalo Guedes crossfield pass into Ferran Torres who set the Frenchman away and he tucked it home past Diego López over the quarter-hour mark.

Geoffrey Kondogbia unleashed an absolute rocket from outside the box which forced Diego López into a fine save to palm the ball behind for a corner kick over the halfway mark in the first half.   

Following the water break, Jasper Cillessen pulled off a sensational save to Raúl de Tomás’ effort to keep the scoreline at 1-0 for Valencia CF but Valencia CF came close to scoring a minute later following a great Kevin Gameiro move who dribbled past defenders before knocking it into Ferran Torres but his effort fizzed wide of the target.

Valencia CF edged Real Club Deportivo Espanyol by 1-0 at the break.

Valencia CF had a slow start to the second with Real Club Deportivo Espanyol having two chances in the early going of the second half through Sergi Darder which Jasper Cillessen gobbled up at the second time of asking.

Minutes later, Embarba provided a scare when he struck the post close to the hour mark. Gonçalo Guedes tore away on a promising counter-attack, threaded into Carlos Soler who could not quite provide the final pass.

Both sides shuffled their packs following the second water break with Valencia CF being made to defend and Real Club Deportivo Espanyol taking the initiative offensively in the final minutes of the game.

Jaume Costa was dismissed in the dying embers and Real Club Deportivo Espanyol provided a late, late scare hitting the post in a dramatic ending to the game.

The game finished 1-0 for Valencia CF in their all but perfect home campaign with results elsewhere going their way which means that Valencia CF are still in with a chance of European qualification on the final day on Sunday away at Sevilla FC at 9 pm kick-off time on matchday 38 of LaLiga Santander.

Match Details:

1. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Thierry C. (Florenzi, m. 71), Diakhaby (G. Paulista, m. 77), Hugo Guillamón, Jaume Costa, Carlos Soler Kondogbia ©, Ferran (Cheryshev, m. 71), Guedes , Kang In (Coquelin, m. 63) and Gameiro (Maxi Gómez, m. 77).

0. RCD Espanyol: Diego López, Pipa, Cabrera, Bernardo (Vargas, m. 84), Didac, S. Darder (Nico Melamed, m. 84), David López ©, Marc Roca (Melendo, m. 63), Embarba , Wu Lei (Pol Lozano, m. 84) and RDT (Campuzano, m. 69)

Goals: 1-0. M. 16: Gameiro.

Referee:  Eduardo Prieto Iglesias. He booked Diakhaby and Coquelin for Valencia CF, and S. Darder, Raúl de Tomás, Didac Vila and Bernardo for RCD Espanyol. He sent off Jaume Costa for a straight red card in the 90th minute.

Observations: Matchday 37 of LaLiga Santander played on Thursday at Mestalla.