Match report: Regional derby loss (2-1)

Valencia CF made a 40-mile jaunt up north to visit regional opposition Villarreal CF on October 18th at 4pm kick-off time on matchday 6 of LaLiga Santander.  

Valencia CF had the worst possible start to the game conceding a spot-kick only four minutes into the first half which was converted by Paco Alcácer. The hosts grew into the game pegging Valencia CF back deep into their own half who defended resolutely. 

The first Valencia CF chance fell to Carlos Soler on twenty minutes who tried his luck from outside the box but the ball went over the bar. Valencia CF settled slightly into the game a bit following the hosts’ early goal.  

Gonçalo Guedes sent it straight at Asenjo over the halfway mark in the opening half and minutes later, Mouctar Diakhaby nodded it straight at Sergio Asenjo who collected it comfortably.  

Moments later, the aforementioned Gonçalo Guedes brought Valencia CF back level lashing a powerful strike from outside the area which flew past the Villarreal backline and inside the far post past Sergio Asenjo on 36 minutes.

Both sides tried to get themselves in front before the break however the first half finished locked together at 1-1 at the break with all to play for in the second half.

Valencia CF had a better start to the second half with a zip about their play and enjoying early half chances through Álex Blanco whose shot was blocked away by a defender who were dominating in terms of play in the second half. 

Valencia CF found themselves trailing against the run of play through a Dani Parejo effort which took a wicked deflection off of Mouctar Diakhaby which wrong-footed Jaume Doménech completely and in it went.   

Javi Gracia tried to shuffle his pack late on in the game with a triple substitution Daniel Wass, Yunus Musah, and Thierry Correia who made way for  Uroš Račić, Kevin Gameiro, and Jason Remesseiro. 

The hosts were reduced to ten men for a Takefusa Kubo double booking in the closing minutes as Valencia CF tried to equalise and make the most of their numerical advantage deep into injury time but the regional derby ended in a 2-1 loss. 

Valencia CF will be back on the road against newly promoted Elche CF at the Martínez Valero on Friday night football at 9 pm kick-off time on matchday 7 in LaLiga Santander where they will try to bring their bad run to an end. 

Match Details: 

2. Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo, Mario Gaspar ©, Raúl Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza, Trigueros (Coquelin, 64 '), Iborra, Parejo (Jaume Costa, 96'), Moi Gómez, Chukwueze (Take Kubo, 64 ') and Paco Alcácer (Bacca, 80 '). 

1. Valencia CF:Jaume Domènech, Thierry Correia (Gameiro, 80 '), Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Gayà ©, Wass (Racic, 80'), Carlos Soler, Yunus Musah (Jason, 82 '), Álex Blanco (Cheryshev, 53 '), Guedes (Manu Vallejo, 89') and Maxi Gómez. 

Goals:1-0, Paco Alcácer (p) m. 5; 1-1 Guedes m. 36; 2-1 Parejo m. 69. 

Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (Madrid). Bookrd Iborra, Pedraza and Gabriel Paulista. He sent off Kubo for a double booking. 

Observations: Matchday 6 of LaLiga Santander played at Estadio La Ceramica where the squad held up a shirt featuring the number 12  which read Españeta on the back in memory of VCF’s legendary kit man Bernado España Edo "Españeta"during the team photo ahead of kick-off.