Valencia CF bowed out of the Copa del Rey at the hands of Athletic Club, suffering a 1-3 defeat at Mestalla in the quarter final stage.

Facing the team who they had eliminated in last year’s semifinals, Valencia CF took to the field with an intense strategy against one of the most demanding sides in Spain. A pair of early chances came their way, but the majority of play centred around duels in the middle of the park.

Half an hour in, Gayà put a cross into the box that none of his teammates were able to reach. It would prove to be the best chance for Valencia CF before Athletic Club took the lead, on 35 minutes, through Iker Muniain.

Effectiveness had made the difference, but Valencia CF were able to pull back level. Just before the break, an extraordinary run from Diakhaby down the right led to the equaliser, an own goal from Athletic Club’s Oscar De Marcos.

Whilst that goal raised the decibel level at Mestalla, only a few moments later Athletic Club took the lead with a scrambled chance eventually put in by Nico Williams.

After the interval, Gattuso brought on Cenk in place of Diakhaby, who had received a yellow card in the first half, and shortly after he made a further triple substitution in search of turning the score around: André Almeida, Hugo Duro and Fran Pérez all came in to add a change of pace to the attack.

Valencia CF pushed for another equaliser, but it would be Athletic Club who would score the third and final goal, as Mikel Vesga converted a penalty.

After a tough setback, the team will seek to return to winning ways on Sunday in LaLiga against Real Valladolid.

MATCH STATS

VALENCIA CF 1 VS. 3 ATHLETIC CLUB

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Cömert, Diakhaby (Cenk, 46’), Gayà, Hugo Guillamón (Marcos André, 75’), Yunus Musah (André Almeida, 57’), Ilaix Moriba, Samu Castillejo (Fran Pérez, 57’), Samuel Lino and Edinson Cavani (Hugo Duro, 57’).

ATHLETIC CLUB: Agirrezabala, De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray Álvarez, Yuri Berchiche, Mikel Vesga, Ander Herrera (Dani García, 79’), Nico Williams (Raúl García, 94’), Berenguer, Muniain (Sancet, 79’) and Iñaki Williams.

GOALS: 0-1 Muniain, 35’; 1-1 De Marcos (O.G.), 43’; 1-2 Nico Williams, 45’; 1-3 Vesga, 74’ (pen).

REFEREE: Del Cerro Grande (C. Madrileño). Yellow cards for Diakhaby, Vivian, Yunus Musah, Cömert and Agirrezabala.