Match Report: VCF return to winning ways with emphatic home win over Real Valladolid (3-0)

Valencia CF welcomed Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol on Sunday the 9th of May at 4:15 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 35 of LaLiga Santander in a must-win game in the final run-in of the season.

Valencia CF were put on the backfoot in the early goings of the game which forced Jasper Cillessen into a double save on seven minutes.

Minutes later, Valencia CF managed to find some foothold in the game with José Luis Gayà as their main attacking outlet who picked out Gonçalo Guedes but his effort was put behind for a corner kick just under the quarter-hour mark.

The game evened out halfway through the first half with Valencia CF bringing menace through José Luis Gaya and Gonçalo Guedes down the left flank and the opposition through Óscar Plano.  

Momentum swung again in the opposition’s favour who were taking control and the initiative going forward enjoying a series of corner kicks over the half-hour mark at Mestalla.

Valencia CF kicked it up a gear in the closing stages after Jose Luis Gayà treatment break for an off-the-ball incident with Janko. First, Gonçalo Guedes unleashed a powerful effort which went narrowly off target and then, on the stroke of half-time, Maxi Gómez gave Valencia CF the breakthrough with an easy tap-in at the back post following a José Luis Gayà deep cross which Daniel Wass tried to get on the end of with a backheel flick but it was the Uruguayan who took full advantage to make it 1-0.

The first half finished 1-0 for Valencia CF

Maxi Gómez picked up where he left off after the restart by putting Valencia CF two goals to the good after getting on the end of a pin-point Carlos Soler pass to turn it in past Masip to take his goalscoring account to seven and finally end his goal drought.

 The tempo fell off a bit after the goal but the away side shuffled their pack and upped the pressure on Valencia CF trying to cut the deficit.

Shortly after Voro shored up the midfield by bringing on Uroš Račić for Kang In over the hour mark in the game.

Valencia CF were trying to hit Real Valladolid on the break while the home side were penning Valencia CF back in their own half and thus, Thierry Correia got on the end of a Denis Cheryshev cross who had replaced Maxi Gómez earlier on with a scintillating sprawling header on 88 minutes to round off the scoreline and ensure all three points.

Valencia CF will make a trip down south to the Andalusian capital, Seville for their midweek clash against Sevilla FC on Wednesday the 12th of May at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán at 7 pm kick-off time on Matchday 36 of LaLiga Santander.       

Match Details:

3. VALENCIA CF: Cillessen, Thierry Correia, Gabriel Paulista, Hugo Guillamón, Diakhaby, Gayà, Wass (Jason, 85’), Carlos Soler (Christian Oliva, 85’), Kang In (Uros Racic, 65’), Guedes (Cheryshev, 77’) and Maxi Gómez (Gameiro, 77’).

0. REAL VALLADOLID: Masip, Janko (Kenan Kodro, 70’), Javi Sánchez (Kiko Olivas, 70’), El Yamiq, Olaza, Rubén Alcaráz (Hervías, 59’), Míchel (Kike Pérez, 70’), Roque Mesa, Óscar Plano, Jota (Marcos de Sousa, 58’) and Weissman.

Goals: 1-0 Maxi Gómez, 46’; 2-0 Maxi Gómez, 48’; 3-0 Thierry Correia, 88’.

Referee: Gil Manzano.

Observations: Matchday 35 of LaLiga Santander held at Mestalla. A respectful minute’s silence was observed ahead of kick-off in memory of the legendary late goalkeeper, Ángel Abelardo González. The players wore black armbands in tribute.