Valencia CF made a short trip down to Elche to face their neighbours on the final day of the Fallas festivities at 4:15 pm kick-off time at the Estadio Martínez Valero on Matchday 29 of LaLiga Santander. 

Valencia CF had a strong start to the game as Hugo Guillamón thought to have scored in the early going with an easy finish following a textbook training ground move which was finished off by Hugo Guillamón Alas, the referee ruled out for the faintest of offside calls against Dimitri Foulquier in the build-up. 

Valencia CF continued taking the game to the opposition with face-paced breaks and direct play despite the VAR setback early on in the game. 

Gonçalo Guedes came close to opening the scoring in the closing stages following a Mascarell let-off at the back, but his long-range effort curled wide and past the left-hand post on 40 minutes. 

The remainder of the half played out at a high tempo at both ends with nothing to separate the sides at half-time at the Estadio Martínez Valero.

Valencia CF were forced into a substitution at the start of the second half with Mouctar Diakhaby making way for Ilaix Moriba.  

Gonçalo Guedes broke the deadlock after bundling the ball following a neat Carlos Soler assist into the Portuguese who rolled it into the back of the net as he was losing his footing on 50 minutes.   

 Maxi Gómez came close to doubling the lead for Valencia CF but his effort went off target with only the keeper to beat after a great Ilaix Moriba ball recovery and a bursting Yunus Musa run close to the hour mark. 

Enzo Roco thought to have scored on 66 minutes, but his goal was disallowed for offside. The home side were dominating in terms of play and chances, but Valencia CF defended resolutely and looking to break forward at every opportunity.  

 The game opened up in the last 20 minutes of normal time with both sides looking to score. Goçalo Guedes went for the acrobatics following yet another Carlos Soler assist but his effort blazed over the bar.  

 Substitute Denis Cherysev saw his glancing header going wide and then Maxi Gómez had his effort blocked away by an Elche CF defender.  

Minutes later, Denis Cheryshev thought to have sealed the win for Valencia CF on 80 minutes, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Gonçalo Guedes in the build-up. Elche CF were reduced to ten men late on. 

 The game finished in a 0-1 win for Valencia CF who managed to dig deep and hold out to come away with a hard-fought eventful regional derby win.

A fitting way to pull the curtain on the Fallas festivities going into the international break. 

Valencia CF will welcome Cádiz CF on the 3rd of April at 6:30 pm at Mestalla on Matchday 30 of LaLiga Santander.

MATCH DETAILS:

0. ELCHE CF: Édgar Badía, Barragán (Josan, 46’), Roco, Diego González, Mojica, Mascarell (Guti, 67’), Gumbau (Kike Pérez, 68’), Pere Milla, Fidel (Guido Carillo, 76’), Lucas Boyé and Ponce (Tete Morente, 57’).

1. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Diakhaby (Ilaix Moriba, 48’), Omar Alderete, Jesús Vázquez, Hugo Guillamón, Carlos Soler, Yunus Musah (Uros Racic, 72’), Bryan Gil (Cheryshev, 72’), Guedes (Hélder Costa, 86’) and Maxi Gómez (Hugo Duro, 86’).

GOALS: 0-1 Guedes, 50’.

REFEREE: Ortiz Arias. Booked Gonzalo Verdú, Barragán, Foulquier, Diakhaby, Bryan Gil and Fidel. Sent off Mojica.

VAR: Iglesias Villanueva.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 29 of LaLiga held at the Estadio Martínez Valero, Elche.