Match Report: Dani Parejo’s spot-kick brace earns VCF opening home win over RCDM (2-0)

Valencia CF faced LaLiga new boys RCD Mallorca who were back in LaLiga six years later since being relegated in the 2012-13 season. Marcelino’s side looked to get their season up and running getting the opening home win going into the international break.

Valencia CF had a slow start to the game playing their typical possession football. RCD Mallorca had the first meaningful chance of the game with a triple chance that Jasper Cilessen kept out. First Salva Sevilla’s shot and then Budimir's whose shot rattled the woodwork and Feba’s shot which was blocked in the eighth  minute.

 Minutes later, Kevin Gameiro with a powerful strike from long range but his shot went off target in the 13th minute of the match as the tempo of the match picked up despite the sweltering weather conditions. 

Lago Junior provided a scare with a curling shot that kissed the right-hand post halfway through the first half.

Dani Parejo tried his luck with a magnificent curling shot which whistled past the post just under the hour mark. Valencia CF kept on pushing for the opener and it came in the closing minutes of the first half after a Raíllo sliding challenge on Francis Coquelin  inside the box.

Dani Parejo gave Valencia CF the lead from twelve yards sending Reina the wrong way and tucking it away down the middle. The first half finished 1-0 for Valencia CF with Dani Parejo’s opener proving the difference between the two sides at the break.

Valencia CF flew out of the blocks in the second half in the manner of Ferran Torres who brought out a save from Reina with a powerful right-footed shot that Reina turned away two minutes inside the first half.

Dani Parejo picked up where he left off in the second half as Valencia CF were awarded another spot-kick after a Lago Junior handball following a Valencia CF corner kick. Dani Parejo stepped up and slotted it home into the bottom right corner to double Valencia CF’s lead.

 RCD Mallorca tried to get back into the game from crosses into the box as Lago Junior and Trajkovski with twenty minutes of normal time left to play.

 Maxi Gómez who replaced Rodrigo Moreno came close to adding a third but he was denied by Reina from close range. The scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF collected their opening three points of the season.  

 Valencia CF will have a two-week international break before travelling to the Camp Nou for the standout fixture of Matchday 4 on Saturday the 15th of September at 9 pm kick-off where they will look to pick up their opening away win.

 Match Details:

2. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Garay, Diakhaby, Gayà, Parejo, Coquelin, Ferran Torres (Cheryshev, min. 72), Guedes, Rodrigo (Maxi Gómez, min. 62) and Gameiro (Kang In, min. 82).

0. RCD Mallorca: M. Reina, Sastre, Valjent, A. Raíllo, Lumor Agbenyenu, Baba, Salva Sevilla, Dani Rodríguez (Salibur, min. 63), Lago Junior, Febas (Trajkovski, min. 63) and Ante Budimir ( Take, min. 78).

Goals: 1-0, min. 43:Parejo,(p). 2-0, min. 56: Parejo, (p).

Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas.  Booked Lago Junior (53 ’).

Observations: Matchday 3 of LaLiga played in Mestalla before xxx spectators. The Valencia CF players wore a shirt with the motto ‘Ánimo Piccini’ before the start of the game, where an emotional and respectful minute of silence was held in memory of Xana, daughter of the former national coach Luis Enrique. The DJ Race entertained the Mestalla crowd in the minutes leading up to kick-off the game, as well as the Musical Society ‘La Marinense’ of Manises.