MATCH REPORT | Valencia CF lose 1-2 to Villarreal CF

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Matchday 10 of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season saw Valencia CF host Villarreal CF at Mestalla, losing 1-2 with Pepelu scoring the opening goal.

The initial minutes were evenly balanced and a display of tactical discipline, with both teams feeling each other out in the battle for control. Misfortune struck David Otorbi; the Valencia CF winger had to leave the pitch after suffering a muscle injury during a counterattack. Dani Raba came on in his place.

Shortly thereafter, Stole Dimitrievski had to intervene to prevent Villarreal CF from taking the lead during a counterattack finished by Buchanan with a shot.

The visitors created several chances, but Valencia CF remained solid.

Raba won a penalty for the home team following a brilliant move inside the Villarreal CF penalty area, where he was brought down by Renato Veiga. Pepelu stepped up to take the spot-kick and scored to make it 1-0.

SECOND HALF

Seven minutes into the second half, José Luis Gayà came close to scoring a second for Valencia CF with a powerful strike that had to be cleared away by Gulácsi.

Valencia CF threatened again on the counter-attack through Arnaut Danjuma, but the opposing goalkeeper made the save.

Villarreal CF kept up the pressure, though they were thwarted by a solid César Tárrega and Pablo Maffeo in defence. Nevertheless, the ‘Yellow Submarine’ managed to equalise following a cross from the flank that was finished off by Freeman.

Approaching the 80th minute, Gueye struck Gayà with an elbow, leaving him bleeding; following a VAR review, referee Alejandro Quintero sent off the opposition midfielder. Numbers were evened out when the official subsequently showed Harvey Elliott a second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal.

Valencia CF gave everything to secure the win, but in the final move of the match, Villarreal CF snatched all three points via a counter-attack finished by Mikautadze, taking the score to 1-2.

The next LaLiga game comes against Elche CF at the Martínez Valero on Sunday, November 1st.

MATCH STATS

1. VALENCIA CF: Dimitrievski, Maffeo (Ugrinic, 77’), Tárrega, De Haas (Hugo Duro, 77’), Gayà ©, Otorbi (Raba, 15’ – Arnau, 70’), G. Rodríguez, Pepelu, L. Rioja, Javi Guerra (Elliott, 70’) and Danjuma.

2. VILLARREAL CF: Gulácsi, Freeman, Foyth © (S. Cardona, 65’), Mouriño, Renato Veiga, I. Akhomach (Moleiro, 65’), Maciá, Gueye, Buchanan (Pau Navarro, 87’), Gerard (Comesaña, 81’) and Ayoze (Mikautadtze, 65’).

GOALS: Pepelu, 38’ (1-0); Freeman, 70’ (1-1); Mikautadtze, 97’ (1-2).

REFEREE: Alejandro Quintero (C. Andaluz). Yellow cards for Raba, Renato Veiga, Ayoze, Buchanan, Maffeo. Red cards for Gueye and Elliott.

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