MATCH REPORT: VALENCIA CF BESTED 0-2 BY VILLARREAL CF | OneFootball

Valencia CF faced Villarreal CF on LaLiga Matchday 10, losing 0-2 at Mestalla in the regional derby.

The team started the match with great momentum, pressing hard without the ball, encouraged by the more than 45,000 fans in attendance.

The first chance came through Arnaut Danjuma, who, after combining with Lucas Beltrán, drew a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Pepelu took the set piece, but missed the chance.

Moments later, Valencia CF came close again with a shot from outside the box by Javi Guerra.

The following minutes of the first half featured a battle for control of possession and defensive intensity from both teams. Valencia CF persisted and came close to scoring the first goal of the match with two consecutive chances.

Copete intercepted the ball in the Villarreal CF box, took it down the left channel and crossed, with Diego López knocking on to the far post for Luis Rioja. His shot forced Luiz Junior to stretch to keep out the effort. The rebound reached Javi Guerra, whose follow-up was blocked.

However, three minutes from the end of the first half, the referee awarded a penalty in Villarreal CF's favour, after a challenge for the ball in the box between Gerard Moreno and Copete. Moreno himself took the penalty and converted to make it 0-1.

After halftime, coach Carlos Corberán brought on Hugo Duro for Lucas Beltrán, and the first attacking action went Valencia CF's way. Gayà sprinted forward and crossed from the left flank, the ball pinging off the opposition defence and nearly finding its way into the net.

Villarreal CF strung together three consecutive chances to increase their lead. The last of these saw them extend the scoreline to 0-2, as Mikautadze burst into the area, Agirrezabala saved his initial shot, but Santi Comesaña capitalized on the rebound to tap the ball into the net.

Valencia CF tried to reduce the deficit with a shot from Danjuma from the left flank, but the goalkeeper saved. A few minutes later, at the other end Agirrezabala used his reflexes for a superb save to prevent the Yellow Submarine from scoring a third.In the ensuing play, Danjuma came very close off a cutback from Rioja, in what was the best chance to get back into the game, but it was not to be.

Valencia CF are back in action on Tuesday at 8pm, taking on UD Maracena in the Copa del Rey at the Nuevo Los Carmenes in Granada.

0. VALENCIA CF: Agirrezabala, Thierry R. (Santamaría, 83’), Tárrega, Copete, Gayà © (J. Vázquez, 61’), Pepelu (Raba, 83’), Javi Guerra (A. Almeida, 61’), L. Rioja, Danjuma, Diego López and Beltrán (Hugo Duro, 46’).

2. VILLARREAL CF: Júnior R, Mouriño, Foyth, Renato Veiga, S. Cardona, Pepe, Santi CV. (Parejo, 79’), Gueye (T. Partey, 68’), A. Moleiro (Buchanan, 87’), Gerard © (Ayoze, 68’) and Mikautaudze (I. Akhomach, 79’).