Match Report: Final away game ends in stalemate (1-1)

Valencia CF visited Real Club Deportivo Espanyol for their final away game of the season on Saturday 14th of May at 6:30 pm kick-off time at the RCDE Stadium on Matchday 37 of LaLiga Santander.

Valencia CF started the game on the backfoot with Real Club Deportivo Espanyol taking the initiative. Jasper Cillessen palmed the ball away at the back post.

Maxi Gómez tried his luck from the edge of the box after a Carlos Soler set up the Urugayan whose drive blazed over the crossbar over the ten-minute mark at the RCDE Stadium. 

Valencia CF found a foothold into the game going forward as Marcos André cross-strike nearly found Maxi Gómez, but Diego López turned it away on the quarter hour mark as Valencia CF enjoined a quickfire chance though Maxi Gómez whose effort was blocked away by Sergi Gómez.

 Chances kept on coming as aforementioned Maxi Gomez got on the end of a Dimitri Foulquier delivery but his headed effort flew over the crossbar under the half-hour mark.

Persistence paid dividends in the 37th minute when Maxi Gómez drew first blood with an impeccable first time finish following a delightful Thierry Correia assist.

Alas, the joy was short-lived as Real Club Deportivo Espanyol brought it back-level seconds away from the half-time whistle through Raúl de Tomás.

 The first half-finished one apiece between the two sides at the RCDE Stadium.

The first half-finished one apiece between the two sides at the RCDE Stadium.

The same script followed in the second half with chances few and far between for either side as Valencia CF struggled to settle into the game at the RCDE Stadium in the early stages. 

The game saw a cagey spell over the hour mark with both sides struggling to make any inroads. Moments later José Bordalás made a raft of changes with little under a quarter of an hour plus stoppage time remaining in the game.

Maxi Gómez came mighty close to grabbing a brace, but Vilhena denied the Uruguayan with a last ditch block and then Thierry Correia was denied by Diego López in a one on one situation with only the keeper to beat.

Japer Cillessen followed suit shortly after denying David López from close range.

The scoreline remained unchanged and the game finished locked together at the RCDE Stadium between RCD Espanyol and Valencia CF.

MATCH DETAILS:

1. RCD ESPANYOL: Diego López, Rubén, Sergi Gómez, David López (Jofre, 86’), Cabrera, Puado (Embarba, 68’), Fran Mérida (Villahermosa, 68’), Darder, Vilhena (Dídac Vilà, 86’), Melendo (Nico, 58’) and Raúl De Tomás. 

1. VALENCIA CF: Cillessen, Thierry, Foulquier, Cömert (Yunus Musah, 66’), Alderete, Gayà, Racic (Guedes, 73’), Soler (Cherysev, 73’), Ilaix Moriba, Marcos André (Bryan Gil, 73’) and Maxi Gómez (Mario Domínguez, 88’).

GOALS: 0-1 Maxi Gómez, 36’; 1-1 Raúl De Tomás, 45’;

REFEREE: Muñiz Ruiz. Booked Fran Mérida, Raúl De Tomás, Darder, Dídac Vilà and Alderete. 

VAR: Iglesias Villanueva.

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 37 of LaLiga held at the RCDE Stadium.