Match Report: All-action stalemate (1-1)

Valencia CF returned to action in midweek to welcome Club Atletico Osasuna on Thursday the 21st of January at 7 pm kick-off time (CET) at Mestalla on Matchday 19 of LaLiga Santander the last fixture of the first term of the season.

The game started at a high tempo at both ends with both sides looking to find a foothold in the early goings of the game. Uroš Račić had a follow-up shot from a free-kick turn behind for a corner kick.

A minute later, fellow teammate Denis Cheryshev sent a teasing ball which rolled across the face of goal as Valencia CF were taking the initiative probing down the wings and delivering dangerous crosses into the box at every opportunity.

Valencia CF were dictating play both in terms of possession and chances from set-piece situations. Mouctar Diakhaby got a free header going straight at the keeper halfway through the first half.

Valencia CF kept bringing menace down the flanks with further surging runs alas, it was the opposition who broke the deadlock as Jonathan Callieri made it 0-1 to Club Atletico Osasuna against the run of play in the closing minutes of the first half.

 Valencia CF trailed Club Atletico Osasuna at the interval with all to play for in the second half.

Valencia CF came out in the second half looking to restore parity and trying to play their way through the opposition in the opening minutes of the second half as the opposition were content to sit back and peel off on the break.

Javi Gracia made a double substitution bringing on Yunus Musah and Kevin Gameiro who replaced Uroš Račić and Denis Cheryshev respectively just shy of the hour mark in the game at Mestalla.

Jaume Doménech pulled off a fine reaction save to Roberto Torres’effort palming it over the crossbar to keep the scoreline at 0-1. Maxi Gómez responded at the other end of the pitch bringing a save out of Sergio Herrera.

Yunus Musah climbed off the bench to pulled it back level will a cross-strike which took a big deflection on Unai García on its way in which wrong-footed Sergio Herrera with little under 20 minutes plus stoppage time left to play.

Valencia CF went in search for the winner taking it to the opposition with substitutes Gonçalo Guedes and Yunus Musha as the main outlets as the opposition forced another fine save out of Jaume Doménech at the other end who turned Jonathan Calleri’s shot onto the post.

Valencia CF came close to scoring the winner at the other end first on the counter-attack and a Carlos Soler header alas, the scoreline remained unchanged and the points were shared at Mestalla between Valencia CF and Club Atletico Osasuna on the midway point of the season.

Valencia CF will visit table-toppers Atletico Madrid on Sunday 24th of January at the Wanda Metropolitano at 9 pm kick-off time on Matchday 20 of LaLiga Santander in the first fixture of the second half of the season. 

Match Details:

1. Valencia CF: Jaume Domènech, Thierry Correia, Diakhaby, Gabriel Paulista, Gayà, Racic (Yunus Musah, 58’), Carlos Soler, Wass, Cheryshev (Guedes, 67’), Kang In (Gameiro, 58’) and Maxi Gómez.

1. CA Osasuna: Sergio Herrera, Nacho Vidal, Roncaglia, Unai García, Juan Cruz, Moncayola (Oier, 87’), Torró, Roberto Torres (Iñigo Perez, 74’), Javi Martínez (Kike Barja, 75’), Rubén García (Manu Sánchez, 74’) and Calleri.

Goals 0-1 Calleri, 41’; 1-1 Unai García (OG), 69’.

Referee: Hernández Hernández. He booked Nacho Vidal, Wass, Juan Cruz and Manu Sánchez.

Observations: Matchday 19 of LaLiga Santander played at Mestalla.