Match Report: Valencia CF celebrate Mestalla centenary with battling home win over Real Madrid (1-0)

Valencia CF welcomed Real Madrid on Sunday the 21st of May at Mestalla at 6:30 pm kick-off time (Local time) on Matchday 35 of LaLiga.

Valencia CF were off to a strong start to the game looking to take the game to the opposition right from the off with a few forays forward into the opposition box in the early goings of the game.

Valencia CF also set out their stalls in defence by being really organised and compact at the back and looking to hit Real Madrid CF on the break at every opportunity with the Mestalla crowd right behind them. 

Valencia CF kept on turning the screws on Real Madrid CF closing them down and applying stifling pressure on the opposition. André Almeida tried his luck with a low drive under the quarter-hour mark, but the ball was gathered by Thibaut Courtois.  

The contest evened out halfway through the first half at Mestalla which saw a cagier spell with chances few and far between for either side.

Diego López broke the deadlock over the half-hour mark. José Luis Gayà rolled the ball into Justin Kluivert whose square ball  and took a little nick off Tchouameni perfectly fell  into Diego López’s path who slid the ball home on the stretch at the far post beyond Courtouis’ reach to make it 1-0 for Valencia CF as he bagged his first senior goal in the top flight.

Valencia CF kept on pushing to double their lead buoyed by the Mestalla crowd trying to make further inroads.

Valencia CF youngster, Javi Guerra came close to doubling their lead after forcing Thibaut Courtois into a save on the stroke of halftime.

Valencia CF edged Real Madrid by 1-0 in a pulsating opening half at Mestalla.

The same script followed in the second half which saw a breakneck pace from the get-go with Valencia CF having some defending to do.

Valencia CF were more alive to second balls, Valencia CF started to pen the opposition back inside their own box as they enjoyed a flurry of turnovers.

Minutes later, Diego López came mighty close to grabbing a brace but his low drive was blocked by Thibaut Courtois.Giorgi Mamarrdashvili pulled off a magnificent save to deny Rodrygo Goes following a Thierry Correia miscued clearance to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

Rubén Baraja shuffled their pack with Edinson Cavani and goalscorer Diego López making way for Dimitri Foulquier and Samuel Lino.

Justin Kluivert broke clear and tried to selflessly square the ball across into Samuel Lino alas, Thibaut Courtois got ahead to collect the ball.

Valencia CF continued to withstand waves of attacks from the opposition at the midway point of the second half.

The game saw a lengthy stoppage for an off-the-ball incident. The game was eventually restarted as the opposition continued to turn up the intensity penning Valencia CF who were digging deep defensively.

Samuel Lino liked up with fellow forward Justin Kluivert thought to have scored an insurance goal. Alas, was chalked off for a fractional offside in the buildup.

Rubén Baraja made a double change with José Luis Gayà and Justin Kluivert coming on for Yunus Musah and Hugo Duro coming on in their stead.

Giorgi Mamardashvil produced heroics with two top-drawer match winning saves first to deny Fede Valverde and then Toni Kroos respectively Real Madrid CF  were reduced to ten men as Vinicius Junior was dismissed for a second yellow as tensions continued to boil over in a feisty affair.

Valencia CF managed to hold out despite the lengthy stoppage time added on to claim all three points with yet another valiant display to cap off the Mestalla centenary weekend with a battling home win over Real Madrid.  

Valencia CF will visit RCD Mallorca on Thursday 25th of May at 7:30 pm kick-off time at the Estadio Mallorca Son Moix on Matchday 36 for Valencia CF’s penultimate outing of the 22-23 LaLiga season.

Match Sheet

1. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry Rendall (Lato, 67'), Cömert, Cenk, Gayà, Javi Guerra, Nico, André Almeida, Diego López (Foulquier, 58'), Justin Kluivert and Cavani (Samuel Lino, 58').

0. REAL MADRID: Courtois, Lucas Vázquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy (Carvajal, 86'), Ceballos (Kroos, 65'), Tchouameni (Valverde, 86'), Camavinga (Rodrygo, 46'), Marco Asensio (Modric, 65'), Vinicius Jr and Benzema.

GOALS: 1-0 Diego López, 33'.

REFEREE: De Burgos Bengoetxea. Yellow cards for Justin Kluivert, Cömert, Rodrygo, Modric, Thierry Rendall and Mamardasvhili. Vinícius was sent for a booking.

VAR: Iglesias Villanueva.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 35 of LaLiga held at Mestalla in front of 46,0002 spectators in attendance.

Valencia CF players wore black armbands in memory of late Spanish refereeing committee president Victoriano Sánchez Arminio.