Valencia CF denied opening day victory by late Real Sociedad penalty (1-1)

Valencia CF took a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad at Mestalla to start their 2019/20 LaLiga campaign. A Kevin Gameiro strike in the second half got Marcelino's men in front, but a late penalty for the visitors meant that the spoils were shared in the first game of the season.

Real Sociedad gave VCF a guard of honour in the moments leading up to kick-off, in recognition of last season's Copa del Rey win.

When the action got underway, summer signing Jasper Cillessen was called into action in the opening  minutes of the match, responding to Januzaj's searching run down the right.

As they played on the counter, Valencia CF proved to be well organised and ready to create chances. Gonçalo Guedes tried his luck with a powerful right footed shot that Moya turned behind for a corner.

Cillessen was forced into a save of his own a few minutes later, as he stuck a leg out to keep out a goal-bound deflected shot, keeping the score level.
Valencia CF settled into the game on the 15-minute mark after some early defensive work. That allowed them to create further chances, and Kevin Gameiro saw his shot hit a defender, whilst Guedes had a shot parried by Moya.

In the closing minutes of the first period, Guedes and Rodrigo enjoyed further opportunities, but neither could break the deadlock.

Valencia CF came out for the second half looking to take the lead. The first chance fell to Rodrigo, whose shot went off target and was flagged for offside.
Moments later, fellow striker Gameiro finally put VCF in front, getting  on the end of a Daniel Wass cross in the 58th minute. It was the team's first goal of the 2019/20 season, and continued the Frenchman's impressive form from preseason.

Just minutes afterwards, Rodrigo Moreno delivered a ball into Gameiro that went over the Frenchman, whilst Guedes came close to scoring when his show was parried by Moya. The Real Sociedad standout pulled off another save to deny the Portuguese.

Rodrigo Moreno had a one-on-one situation with the keeper, but his shot kissed the upright with little over ten minutes to go.

Stoppage time saw two penalties that decided the game. Valencia CF were awarded a stoppage time spot-kick, taken by Gameiro in the absence of regular taker Dani Parejo, but his shot flew over the bar.

That was followed by a penalty awarded to Real Sociedad, with a red card shown to Francis Coquelin for his foul inside the box. Mikel Oyarzabal converted, denying Valencia CF their first three points.

LINEUPS

Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Gabriel Paulista, Garay, Jaume Costa (Piccini, 81’), Kondogbia, Coquelin, Carlos Soler (Ferran Torres, 88’), Guedes, Gameiro and Rodrigo (Cheryshev, 83’).

Real Sociedad: Moyá, Zaldúa (Barrenetxea, 81’), Le Normand, Zubeldia, Aihen (Kevin Rodrigues, 83’), Illarramendi, Merino, Januzaj (Isak, 70’), Odgaard, Willian José and Oyarzabal.

Goals: 1-0 Gameiro, 57’; 1-1 Oyarzabal, 100’.