MATCH REPORT | 3-1 defeat away to RC Celta | OneFootball

Valencia CF lost 3-1 to RC Celta onLALIGA EA Sports Matchday 2, despite having taken the lead at Balaídos through Diego López in the opening minutes. The team will now chase their first win of the campaign on Wednesday against Athletic Club.

Rubén Baraja's men had a good start to the match, looking for goals from the outset. Pepelu was the first to try with a free kick from the left that RC Celta cleared from the area, and the team pressed hard looking to steal the ball and set up a quick attack.

Shortly before the first quarter of an hour of play, Diego López put Valencia CF ahead off a corner, lurking behind the defence and taking advantage of an acrobatic hit by Rafa Mir.

Celta Vigo goalkeeper Iván Villar made a good stop from Thierry Correia shortly afterwards, as the winger split the defence with a solo move on the right to find himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Against the run of play, Celta levelled through Oscar Mingueza in the 23rd minute. Just five minutes later, they went ahead with a goal from Iago Aspas.

Valencia CF would try again to score when Jesús Vázquez, through on the goalkeeper, passed to Hugo Duro on the penalty spot, but when the No.9 turned to look for the shot, he had several defenders smother him.

In the last move of the first half there was controversy, as the ball hit Duro's forearm and the referee awarded a penalty -despite the contact having come from a rebound from a teammate. The misfortune could have cost him dearly, but Giorgi Mamardashvili stepped up to stop Iago Aspas' penalty and keep the home side's advantage to a solitary goal.

Valencia CF tried to react after the break, but around the hour mark RC Celta would score their third, from a corner. Fran Beltrán took the ball on the edge of the area and shot into the top corner.

In the final stretch of the match, debutant Luis Rioja came on, and Rafa Mir hit the post with a header. However, despite their efforts, the game ended 3-1.

CELTA VIGO 3 - 1 VALENCIA CF

RC CELTA: Iván Villar, Javi Rodríguez (Starfelt, 75’), Jailson, Carlos Domínguez, Hugo Álvarez, Óscar Mingueza (Carreira, 46’), Damián Rodríguez, Fran Beltrán, Iago Aspas, Swedberg (Bamba, 65’) and Douvikas (Borja Iglesias, 66’).

VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry (Foulquier, 77’), Cristhian Mosquera, Yarek, Jesús Vázquez, Pepelu, Javi Guerra (Luis Rioja, 61’), Rafa Mir (Alberto Marí, 84’), Diego López (Martín Tejón, 77’), André Almeida and Hugo Duro (Dani Gómez, 77’).