Match Report: VCF exit UCL (3-4)

Valencia CF returned to Champions League football to welcome Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio on Tuesday the 10th of March at Mestalla at 9 pm kick-off time looking to cut a three-goal deficit from the first leg behind closed doors over COVID-19 concerns.

Valencia CF had the worst possible start to the game when Mouctar Diakhaby had a penalty call against him for a foul on Josip Iličić who scored the resulting penalty kick to make it 0-1 to Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio early into the match.

The first Valencia CF chance fell to Rodrigo Moreno who forced Marco Sportiello into a save following a powerful drive but the goalkeeper was equal to it.

Minutes later, fellow striker Kevin Gameiro brought Valencia CF back on level terms pouncing on a loose ball nipping inside Palomino to stab home from close range following a Rodrigo Moreno through ball.

Aforementioned Mouctar Diakhaby had another penalty call against him for handball following a VAR review in the closing minutes of the first half and Josip Iličić made it 1-2 to Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio.

Valencia CF trailed Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio 1-2 at the half with only the win and pride left to fight for on the night.

Valencia CF had a better start to the game with Ferran Torres having an effort on goal upon the restart and then, Carlos Soler got on the end of a searching Rodrigo Moreno cross but Marco Sportiello claimed it.  

Kevin Gameiro restored parity again with a thumping header past a stranded Marco Sportiello after meeting a Ferran Torres cross from the right-hand-side to grab his brace on the night and make it 2-2.

Valencia CF took the lead for the first time through Ferran Torres who raced onto a Dani Parejo ball to lift it over an on-rushing Marco Sportiello in style to make it 3-2 for Valencia CF over the hour mark.  

Josip Iličić completed a four-goal haul on the night late on in the game and it finished 3-4 to Atlatanta Bergamasca Calcio. Valencia CF will welcome cross-town opposition Levante UD in the Valencia derby on Saturday at 4 pm kick-off time on Matchday 28 which will also be played behind closed doors upon confirmation by LaLiga.

Match Details:

3. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Diakhaby (Guedes, m. 46), Coquelin (Cheryshev, m. 74), Gayà, Carlos Soler, Kondogbia, Parejo, Ferran Torres, Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno (Florenzi, m. 79) .

4. Atalanta BC: Sportiello, Palomino, Caldara, Djimsiti, Gosens, Freuler, De Roon (Zapata, m. 43), Hateboer, Pasalic (Tameze, m. 83), Papu Gómez (Malinovskyi, m. 78) and Ilicic.

Goals: 0-1. M 3: Ilicic (p). 1-1. M. 21: Gameiro. 1-2. M. 43: Ilicic (p). 2-2. M. 51: Gameiro. 3-2 M. 67: Ferran Torres. 3-3. M. 71: Ilicic. 3-4. M. 82: Ilicic.

Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (Romania). He showed yellow card to Coquelin, Diakhaby, Kondogbia, Wass for Valencia CF, and Freuler for Atalanta.

Observations: Return leg of the last 16 of the Champions League played on Tuesday, at 9 pm, behind closed doors at Mestalla.