Match Report | Valencia CF beat Atalanta BC to win Trofeu Taronja (2-1)

Valencia CF’s preseason came to a close at the weekend with the 50th edition of the Trofeu Taronja curtain raiser which took place on Saturday at 9 pm kick-off time at Mestalla against Atalanta BC.  

Valencia CF came out quick out of the blocks with José Gayà enjoying the first chance of the game with an acrobatic effort which went wide of the target.

Minutes later, Samuel Lino tried his luck from outside the box, but his powerful long drive fizzed just wide of the right-hand post and then Hugo Duro followed suit with another goal attempt. 

Valencia CF took the game to the opposition dominating both in terms of play and chances in the opening minutes of the first half. Valencia CF kept on pushing enjoying a flurry of chances with Samuel Lino as Valencia CF’s main attacking outlet.

Yunus Musah came mighty close to opening the scoring and rattled the crossbar with a powerful drive which took a deflection off Toloi and then José Luis Gayà unleashed a long rage effort on the follow-up which blazed over the crossbar.

Samuel Lino saw his low drive dragging wide following a fine link-up between Hugo Duro, and Samuel Castillejo who threaded into Samuel Lino who swept it wide. 

Hugo Duro opened the scoring in the closing minutes of the first half in style. A nifty backheel flick into the back of the net after smartly getting on the end of a José Luís Gayà pinpoint cross who expertly brought down a clever switch of play from Hugo Guillamón to set up Hugo Duro who finished it off with panache at the near post.  

Valencia CF edged Atalanta BC by a 1-0 scoreline in an entertaining first half at Mestalla.

The same script followed in the second half with Valencia CF looking to double their lead. Alas, Atalanta BC equalised through Éderson Dos Santos completely against the run of play early into the second half.

Valencia CF refused to back down and kept on taking the game to the opposition after Atalanta BC equaliser with Samuel Lino who tested the Atalanta keeper on the hour mark which was turned away by the keeper. 

Valencia CF kept on turning up the tempo and intensity looking to retake the lead with the help of the Valencia CF fanbase right behind the team as Valencia CF had relentless forays into the opposition box.  

Carlos Soler forced the Atalanta BC Keeper into a stop with a cross-strike which was palmed behind for a corner-kick with a little over 12 minutes plus stoppage time left to go.

Hugo Duro put Valencia CF back in front after getting on the end of a cross and nodding it home with a towering header from the 18-yard box to grab a magnificent brace and earn Valencia CF the Trofeu Taronja curtain raiser trophy.

2. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R, Diakhaby, Cömert, Gayà (Jesús Vázquez, 63’), Hugo Guillamón, Carlos Soler, Yunus Musah, Samu Castillejo (Fran Pérez, 67’), Samuel Lino (Foulquier, 63’) and Hugo Duro (Manu Vallejo, 88’).

1. ATALANTA BC: Musso, Toloi (Berat, 79’), Pedersen (Ruggeri, 89’), Okoli Caleb, Teun, Dos Santos (Boga, 79’), De Roon, Hateboer (Zortea, 75’), Scalvini (Malinovskyi, 46’), Zapata (Miranchuk, 80’) and Muriel (Pasalic, 46’).

GOALS: 1-0 Hugo Duro, 43’; 1-1 Dos Santos, 52’; 2-1 Hugo Duro, 80’.

REFEREE: Mateu Lahoz (C. Valenciano).

Observations: Trofeu Taronja game held at Mestalla. A minute's silence was observed at the start of the match in memory of Roberto Gil and Alvin Yeo.