Match Report: Valencia CF extend unbeaten home run with hard earned win over Granada CF (2-1)

Valencia CF welcomed Granada CF on Sunday the 21st of March at 4:15 pm kick-off time at home Matchday 28 of LaLiga Santander. The game started at a high tempo at both ends in a frantic affair at Mestalla.  

Daniel Wass drew first blood just three minutes into the match with a neat one-touch finish with the outside of his boot following a pin-point Gayà delivery from the left hand side which was expertly turned home by the Dane to make it 1-0 for Valencia CF.   

The visitors tried to respond immediately at the other end through a Kennedy effort but Jasper Cillessen was equal to it. 

Minutes later, Álex Blanco came close to a second on the 10-minute mark with a point-blank range which was turned behind for a corner kick two minutes later, it was fellow forward Maxi Gómez who tried his luck but his effort was deflected behind for a corner kick. 

Rui Silva was forced into a double reaction save from point-blank range to deny Uroš Račić what would have been the second goal of the game following a series of scrambles inside the opposition goal. 

Valencia CF were all over Granada CF searching for the so-called insurance goal with Gayà as main attacking outlet down the left wing as Valencia CF continued to dominate in terms of possession and chances putting a solid shift in.   

 The first half finished 1-0 for Valencia CF at the interval.

Valencia CF picked up were they left off after the restart surging forward at Granada CF looking to double their advantage. Gonçalo Guedes delivered a dangerous ball but nobody got on the end of it.  

The game saw a spell with a raft of stoppages with treatment breaks and substitutions but over the hour mark, Granda CF were given a stern warning following a fine link-up play between Gonçalo Guedes and Álex Blanco and Uroš Račić which was finished off by the latter with a powerful strike that went begging.   

Álex Blanco got off the mark for Valencia with his maiden LaLiga goal for Valencia CF. Aléx Blanco arrowed it home past Rui Silva following a clever Gonçalo Guedes ball into Blanco who fired it home to open his Valencia CF account.  

Yangel Herrera tried to test Jasper after the goal but the Dutch gobbled it up. Javi Gracia brought on Kang In for one of the goalscorers of the afternoon, Álex Blanco. 

 Both sides pushed on with big chances for either side in the closing minutes, Maxi Gómez came close to getting on the scoresheet twice in quick succession. First, on 83 minutes after almost pouncing on a Rui Silva let-off at the back and then two minutes later, bringing a save out of Rui Silva. 

Aforementioned Maxi Gómez rued yet another chance in front of goal on 89 minutes following a fine assist from fellow striker Manu Vallejo who had replaced Portuguese winger Gonçalo Guedes earlier on.  

Former Valencia CF man Roberto Soldado provided a late scare with a 91st-minute strike which was nothing more than a consolation goal. Valencia CF managed to see off Granada to extend their unbeaten home run since the turn of the year as well as over the Andalusian side. 

Valencia CF will visit top-flight newcomers Cádiz CF following the International break on the 4th of April at 6:30 pm kick-off time at the Estadio Ramón de Carranza on Mathaday 29 of LaLiga Santander.   

Match Details: 

2. VALENCIA CF: Cillessen, Thierry Correia, Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Racic, Carlos Soler, Wass (Yunus Musah, 86’), Álex Blanco (Kang In, 78’), Guedes and Maxi Gómez. 

1. GRANADA CF: Rui Silva, Víctor Díaz, Germán, Domingos Duarte, Quini, Yan Eteki, Yangel Herrera, Fede Vico (Ángel Montoro, 46’), Domingos Quina (Darwin Machís, 46’) (Molina, 64’), Kenedy (Puertas, 57’) and Soldado. 

Goals: 1-0 Wass, 3’; 2-0 Álex Blanco, 65’; 2-1 Soldado, 91’. 

Referee: Alberola Rojas booked Germán Sánchez, Montoro and Quini. 

Observations: Matchday 28 of LaLiga Santander held at Mestalla. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of our late colleague, José Manuel Reina, sound technician and beloved VCF Media Radio staff member and for Alfredo Zarco Adell, club member number 125 for 54 years.