Match Report: Away loss to FC Barcelona (1-0)

Valencia CF travelled to Barcelona to take FC Barcelona on Sunday, the 5th of March at 4:15 pm kick-off time (CET) at the Spotify Camp Nou on Matchday 24 of LaLiga. 

Valencia CF had a positive start to the game being really organised, tight and disciplined at the back while looking to run into the opposition box at every opportunity in the opening minutes of the first half.  

Alas, Raphina made it 1-0 to FC Barcelona on the quarter-hour mark. Valencia CF continued to sit back with Valencia CF forays forward few and far between halfway through the first half at the Spotify Camp Nou.    

Valencia CF probed forward through long balls in behind the FC Barcelona backline and Thierry nodded it wide over the half-hour mark.

Minutes later, Valencia CF came close to profiting from a Ferran Torres miscued back pass but Samuel Lino’s effort flew over the bar when the goal was gaping.  

Shortly after, Illaix Moriba came mighty close to equalising after collecting a Jesús Vázquez ball, but Ilaix's drive whistled over the crossbar.       

 Valencia CF trailed FC Barcelona by 1-0 at the Camp Nou at halftime. 

The same script followed at the start of the second half with the opposition dictating play in the early goings of the second half.  

Hugo Guillamón was on the wrong end of a hapless penalty incident when the ball hit his hand whilst his was protecting his face. The referee awarded the spot-kick despite the protests, but justice was restored when Ferran put the ball wide. 

Minutes later, FC Barcelona were reduced to ten men when Ronald Araujo brought down Hugo Duro who won the ball in the final third. 

Rubén Baraja shuffled his pack bringing on Fran Pérez and Samu Castillejo who replaced Theirry Correia and Ilaix Moriba over the hour mark at the Camp Nou. 

Fran Pérez's effort went a whisker wide of the post with twenty minutes plus stoppage time left to play, but he was flagged up for a marginal offside against the youngster as Valencia CF kept pushing for the equaliser. 

Rubén Baraja made another double change with André Almeida and Samuel Lino making way for Yunush Musah and Justin Kluivert.

 Late on in the game, the referee waved away Valencia CF's penalty appeals when Fran Pérez went down under the challenge of Kessie.  

Despite Valencia CF’s efforts to collect a much-deserved point, they came away undeservedly unrewarded from the Spotify Camp Nou as the game ended in a 1-0 loss to Valencia CF. 

Valencia CF will welcome Club Atletico Osasuna on Saturday, the 11th of March at 9 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 25 of LaLiga.

MATCH SHEET:

FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Christensen, Ronald Araújo, Balde, Busquets, Sergi Roberto (Eric García, 81'), De Jong (Kessie, 46'), Raphinha (Ángel Alarcón, 87'), Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati (Marcos Alonso, 61').

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R. (Samu Castillejo, 62'), Cömert (Diakhaby, 55'), Cenk, Jesús Vázquez, Hugo Guillamón, Ilaix Moriba (Fran Pérez, 62'), André Almeida (Yunus Musah, 78'), Foulquier, Samuel Lino (Justin Kluivert, 78') and Hugo Duro.

GOALS: 1-0 Raphinha, 15'.

REFEREE: Alberola Rojas. Sent off Ronald Araújo in the 59th minute.

VAR: Jaime Latre.

OBSERVATIONS: LaLiga Matchday 24 of the season played at Spotify Camp Nou.