Valencia CF visited Sociedad Deportiva Eibar on Thursday, June 25 at Ipurua at 7:30 pm kick-off time on Matchday 31 of LaLiga Santander looking to get their maiden win away from home of 2020.

Valencia CF started slowly being deeply pegged back by the hosts while playing their typical possession football moving the opposition from side to side trying to pass their way into the area and withstand the opposition’s stifling high press.

SD Eibar got themselves in front through a wicked corner kick delivery which came off Geoffrey Kondogbia and into the back of the net over the quarter-hour mark in the Basque country.

Jose Luis Gayà had Valencia CF’s first chance of the game following a quick exchange with a dummy which dragged wide of the post over the twenty-minute mark in the opening half at Ipurua. Minutes later, Ferran Torres had another chance after waltzing past a few markers but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.  

The rest of the half was played out without further incidents and the first half finished 1-0 to SD Eibar at the Intermission with all to play for in the second half.

Albert Celades made a half-time substitution as Carlos Soler made way for Kevin Gameiro. The same script followed in the second half with the opposition enjoying a series of corner kicks in quick succession as the stifling pressure by the home side continued.

Jose Luis Gayà put a magnificent and crucial sliding block in to Correa’s effort and then Jasper produced a great one-handed save to palm it over the crossbar off of a dangerous free-kick delivery from Cote.

Albert Celades shuffled his pack and made a double substitution Gonçalo Guedes was replaced by Denis Cheryshev and Alessandro Florrenzi came on in Daniel Wass’ stead over the hour mark.

Alessandro Florenzi had a curling effort on goal following a long link-up play but the ball sailed over the crossbar with little under twenty minutes of normal time left to play at Ipurua in the Basque Country.

Denis Cheryshev enjoyed a volley with five minutes of normal time to play as Eliaquim Mangala was sent off for a double booking after a bad challenge on Kike García. VCF pushed for a last gasp equaliser but the match finished 1-0 to SD Eibar in a stop-start and stagnant affair due to the number of fouls.

Valencia CF will visit cross-region opposition Villarreal CF in a Sunday regional derby at 5 pm kick-off time where Valencia CF will try to end their away-day hoodoo at Villarreal on Matchday 32 of LaLiga Santander.

Match Details:

1. SD Eibar: Dimitrovic, Rober Correa, P. Oliveira, R. Bigas, Cote, P. León (Cristóforo, m. 79), Edu Expósito, Escalante ©, Orellana, Charles LC (Sergi Enrich, m. 78) and Kike G. (Sergio Álvarez, m. 90 + 2).

0. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass (Florenzi, m. 62), Gabriel Paulista, Mangala, Gayà, Ferrán (Maxi Gómez, m. 84), Parejo ©, Kondogbia, Guedes (Cheryshev, m. 62), Carlos Soler ( Gameiro, m. 46) and Rodrigo.

Goals: 1-0. M. 16: Kondogbia (OG)

Referee: Jaime Latre. Showed yellow card to Escalante, Charles, Sergi Enrich for SD Eibar. He dismissed Mangala, in the 89th minute, for a double booking for Valencia CF.

Observations: Matchday 31 of LaLiga played on Thursday at 7:30pm at Ipurua.