Match Report: Valiant away win over Sevilla FC in season opener (1-2)

Valencia CF travelled to Seville to take on Sevilla FC in their first outing of 23-24 for their season opener at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán at 10 pm kick-off time (CET) on Matchday 1 of LaLiga EA Sports.

Valencia CF had a positive start to their opening game in the early goings of the game. Albeit, Cenk made a vital last-ditch tackle to stop Youssef En-Nesyri under the 10-minute mark as the opposition started to dictate play.

Valencia CF tried to break forward at every opportunity. Diego López tried his luck, but his effort whistled over the crossbar.

Valencia CF struggled to find a foothold in the game halfway through the first half despite enjoying a few forays forward.

The opposition enjoyed a series of corner kicks under the half-hour mark, but Valencia CF showed out their stalls in defence.

Diego López came mighty close to scoring with a smart flick following an excellent work from Fran Pérez down the right flank but the Asturian’s effort crept past the wrong side of the post in the 33rd minute.

The first half finished locked together at 0-0 with all to play for in the second half at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjúan in Seville.

The same script followed at the start of the second stanza with the opposition dictating play while Valencia CF were struggling to settle into the game and trying to hit Sevilla FC on the counter-attack.  

The first Valencia CF chance fell to Pepelu whose volley went wide following a fine collective move going forward.  

Hugo Duro was denied by Bono following a brilliant solo move by Diego López. Shortly after, Mouctar Diakhaby broke the deadlock with a miscued effort which bounced off the turf and in it went past Bono on the hour mark after collecting a pass from André Almeida.  

Alas, the joy was short-lived as Yussef En-Nesiry brought Sevilla FC back on level terms only ten minutes after Mouctar Diakhaby’s opener. 

Sevilla FC were reduced to ten men with ten minutes plus stoppage time left to play for a double booking after bundling down Hugo Duro. Moments later, Pepelu tried his luck from a distance but his effort went off target. 

Javi Guerra slammed it home pouncing on a Sevilla FC defensive mistake to put Valencia CF back in front late on at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. 

Moments later, Giorgi Mamardashvili produced heroics with a superb stop to keep the scoreline at 1-2. 

Valencia CF managed to hold out to come away with all three points with a valiant performance in their opening game of the season.  

Valencia CF will welcome LaLiga newcomers UD Las Palmas in their home opener of the season on Friday night football at Mestalla on the 18th of August at 9:30 pm kick-off time on Matchday 2 of LaLiga EA Sports.

MATCH SHEET:

1. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Jesús Navas (Juanlu, 69'), Badé, Gudelj, Acuña, Fernando (Sow, 69'), Rakitic, Ocampos, Suso, Lamela (Óliver Torres, 57') and En-Nesyri (Gattoni, 82').

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R., Cenk, Gabriel Paulista, Gayà (Jesús Vázquez, 87'), Diakhaby, Pepelu, Fran Pérez (Foulquier, 61'), André Almeida (Javi Guerra, 61'), Diego López (Pablo Gozálbez, 65') and Hugo Duro.

GOALS: 0-1 Diakhaby, 60'; 1-1 En-Nesyri, 69'; 1-2 Javi Guerra, 88'.

REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez. Booked Diakhaby, Rakitic, Cenk, Gudelj and Acuña. Badé was sent off in 80'.

VAR: Del Cerro Grande.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 1 of LaLiga EA Sports played at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.