Match Report: VCF go back to winning ways as Gameiro strikes twice (1-2)

Valencia CF played versus Bayern 04 Leverkusen in pre-season action again after last preseason's 3-0 win at Valencia CF curtain-raiser. This time around, they will meet time at the Bay Arena at 2 pm kick-off time.

Valencia CF had a quiet start with the home side comfortably in possession and Valencia CF trying to press high up the pitch. Valencia CF won a spot-kick in their first foray inside the opposition box. Rodrigo Moreno was clipped over by Kerem Demirbay as he was about to power one in.

The referee pointed to the spot and fellow striker Kevin Gameiro stepped up to score subsequent penalty tucking it away past Hradecky into the bottom right corner to open the scoring on the 10th-minute mark.

Bayer Leverkusen tested Cillessen through Paulinho who tried his luck on 17 minutes but Cillessen was equal to it. Bayer 04 Leverkusen were reduced to 10 men two minutes later as Dragovic was given his marching orders for a straight red after a rash sliding tackle from behind on Rodrigo Moreno.

Dani Parejo stung the keeper’s hands with a powerful free-kick but the keeper tipped it behind for a corner kick midway through the first half and a minute later Mouctar Diakhhaby headed it over.

Kevin came close to putting Valencia CF back ahead as he was put through on goal by Rodrigo Moreno but things took a turn for the worse when Bayer were awarded a penalty at the other end for a Kondogbia  handball and after a VAR review the referee awarded the penalty  and Harvetz cancelled out Gameiro’s opener from the spot.

Marcelino’s side tried to get themselves back in front but the games saw stultifying passages of play from both sides with plenty of fouls and stoppages. Paulinho had the last kick of the half on the stroke of half time but his shot fizzed just wide.

The first half finished 1-1 with very little to separate the sides.

Valencia CF had a buoyed start to the second half with a wealth of half-chances in the opening minutes as Marcelino made one substitution at half time. Gonçalo Guedes made way for Denis Cheryshev.

The Russian had an instant impact with great work down the left to set up Gameiro whose instinctive back-heeled flick was turned away by the keeper.

Persistence paid dividends moments later when Diakhaby scooped it over the top to set the Frenchman away who latched onto the ball and comfortably slotted it home on 58 minutes to get Valencia CF back in front.

Both sides shuffled their personnel following the Frenchman’s brace as the tempo of the match dropped.

Maxi Gomez who was brought on in the second half came close to rounding off the scoring but he could not capitalise on a Bayer 04 defensive mistake to put Valencia CF two goals to the good in the closing minutes of the match.

The match finished 1-2 for Marcelino’s side who will close out their pre-season on the 10th of August in their curtain-raiser the Bwin Trofeo Naranja at Mestalla against Inter Milan in front of the home fans which will mark the Centenary edition of the summer trophy.

Match Details:

Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Hradecky, Tah, Dragovic, Wendell, Havertz, Volland ©, Bailey, Paulinho, Baumgartlinger, Demirbay and Jedvaj. They also played Retsos, Sinkgraven, Diavy, Amiri, Alario, Stanilewicz and Aranguiz.

Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Garay, Diakhaby (G. Paulista, m. 62), Gayà (Salva Ruiz, m. 88), Parejo © (Kang In, m. 74), Kondogbia, Carlos Soler (Piccini, m. 73), Guedes (Cheryshev, m. 46), Gameiro (Maxi Gómez, m. 62) and Rodrigo M. (Ferran, m. 73).

Goals: 0-1. M. 10: Gameiro of penalty. 1-1. M. 27: Havertz of penalty. 1-2. M. 57: Gameiro.

Referee: Sven Weschitzki. He booked Demirbay for B04 and Parejo. He sent off Dragovic in the 20th minute.

Observations: Fifth preseason game played at the BayArena in Leverkusen.