Match Report: Away loss to CA Osasuna (3-1)

Valencia CF visited Club Atletico Osasuna in midweek on Wednesday 21st of April at 7 pm kick-off time at el Sadar on Matchday 31 of LaLiga Santander.

The game saw a cagey start with both sides looking to settle into the game in the early goings of the match. Alas, it was Javi Martínez who broke the deadlock over the ten minute mark of the game.

 Minutes later, Gonçalo Guedes tried his luck and it came off the base of the left-hand upright with Sergio Herrera beaten at full stretch.

Kevin Gameiro put Valencia CF back on level terms on the half-hour mark a following a slick combination  between José Luis Gayà who rolled it into Gonçalo Guedes who scooped it over into an on-rushing Kevin Gameiro who hit it first time past Sergio Herrera to make it 1-1.

Alas, it was short-lived equaliser Club Atletico Osasuna replied immediately at the other end. Jonathan Calleri made it 2-1 to the home side who kept on pushing forward as Valencia CF were trying to get a foothold in the game.

 Valencia CF trailed Club Atletico Osasuna 2-1 at halftime at El Sadar.

Valencia CF emerged in the second half looking to restore parity and nearly did through Gonçalo Guedes who yet again hit the post which was followed in by Kevin Gameiro but he could not quite guide it on target.

Javi Gracia made a double substitution Uroš Račić who made way for Christian Oliva and Yunus Musah who was replaced by Kang In on 52 minutes.  Shortly after, Daniel Wass blasted it over from a free-kick.

Jaume pulled off a magnificent diving save to turn away Oier’s powerful effort and keep the scoreline at 2-1.

Late on, Valencia CF were on the wrong end of  a contentious penalty call against Valencia CF’s youngster, Guillem Molina for a handball on the edge of the area  but Jaume produced heroics between the posts and kept out Roberto Torres’ effort diving to his left.

Seconds later, the referee pointed to the spot yet again for a penalty call against Mouctar Diakhaby. Roberto Torres made it 3-1 to Club Atletico Osasuna.

Valencia CF tried to cut the two goal deficit with Gonçalo Guedes as the main attacking outlet who cut inside and squared it into Jose Luis Gayà whose shot whistled over the crossbar little under 15 plus injury time left to play.

Manu Vallejo and Jason Remesseiro came on in place of Kevin Gameiro and Guillem Molina for the final stages of the game. Jaume pulled off another save to Budimir from point blank range and then to Brasanac.  

The scoreline remained unchanged and the game finished in a 3-1 loss at El Sadar. Valencia CF will welcome Deportivo Alaves on Saturday 24th of April at 6:30 pm kick-off on Matchday 32 of LaLiga Santander.  

Match Details:

3. CAO: Sergio Herrera, Nacho Vidal, Aridane, David García, Manuel Sánchez, Oier (Moncayola, 63’), Lucas Torró, Javier Martínez (Brasanac, 74’), Roberto Torres (Chimy Ávila, 78’), Adrián López (Rubén García, 63’) and Jonathan Calleri (Budimir, 78’).

1. VCF: Jaume Domènech, Guillem Molina (Jason, 80’), Diakhaby, Gabriel Paulista, Gayà, Racic (Christian Oliva, 52’), Wass, Yunus Musah (Kang In, 52’), Cheryshev (Cutrone, 69’), Guedes and Gameiro (Manu Vallejo, 80’).

Goals: 1-0 Javi Martínez, 13’; 1-1 Gameiro, 30’; 2-1 Calleri, 32’; 3-1 Roberto Torres (p.) 67’.

 Referee: Melero López. Booked Guedes, Oier and Diakhaby.

Observations: Matchday 31 of LaLiga Santander held at El Sadar, Pamplona.

Both sets of players took it to the pitch wearing a t-shirt featuring their respective club badges and bearing the slogan “EARN IT, FOOTBALL IS FOR THE FANS" in protest at the announcement of the European Super League earlier this week.