Match Report: Home draw against Sevilla FC (1-1)

Valencia CF returned to LaLiga action to welcome Sevilla FC in midweek on Wednesday 19th of January at 9:30 pm at Mestalla on Matchday 21 of LaLiga.  

Valencia CF had a hapless start to the game with Mouctar Diakhaby on the end of a wicked deflection following a Montiel cross which found its way in just six minutes into the first half at Mestalla.  

Moments later, José Luis Gayà, thought he had scored but his goal was disallowed for offside in the buildup as Valencia CF were forced into a substitution in goal Jasper Cilessen made way for Jaume Domènech.  

Valencia CF refused to back down and they enjoyed a series of forays forward halfway through the first half looking to find a foothold in the game.   

Valencia CF kept on pushing for an equaliser so much so that they were penning Sevilla FC inside their own half through a fine link-up play between Gonçalo Guedes and Jose Luis Gayà who pulled the ball back into Dimitri Foulquier who dragged his effort wide over the half-hour mark.   

Gonçalo Guedes almost caught the Sevilla FC keeper out, but Javi Díaz managed to claim it.

However, minutes later, Gonçalo Guedes got on the end of a scintillating José Luis Gayà cross and the Portuguese nodded the ball home with an absolute bullet of a header past Javi Díaz in the closing minutes of the first half to get Valencia CF back on level terms. 

The first half finished locked together at 1-1 with all to play for in the second half.  

José Bordalás made a halftime substitution bringing on Toni Lato for LaLiga debutant Christian Mosquera. Valencia CF had a quiet start to the second half looking to settle into the game and make inroads going forward.    

The game opened up towards the hour mark with both sides enjoying breaks into the opposition box in an end-to-end spell but with clear cut chances few and far between for either side. 

Valencia CF were reduced to ten men as José Luis Gayà was sent off for a double booking in the final stages of the second half. The scoreline remained unchanged and the game finished points shared. 

Valencia CF will visit Atletico Madrid on Saturday, 22nd of January at 9 pm kick-off time at the Wanda Metropolitano on Matchday 22 of LaLiga.  

MATCH DETAILS: 

1. VALENCIA CF: Cillessen (Jaume Domènech, 18,’), Thierry Rendall (Marcos André, 77’), Mosquera (Lato, 46’), Alderete Diakhaby, Gayà, Hugo Guillamón, Yunus Musah (Racic, 85’), Foulquier, Hugo Duro and Guedes. 

1. SEVILLA FC: Javi Díaz, Montiel, Diego Carlos, Rekik, Acuña (Jordán, 46’), Fernando, Óliver Torres, Rakitic, Fernando, Papu Gómez (Corona, 74’), Ocampos, Rafa Mir. 

GOALS: 0-1 Diakhaby (o.g.) 7’; 1-1 Guedes, 44’ 

REFEREE: Soto Grado. Booked  Acuña, Montiel, Lato and sent off Gayà for a double booking.  

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 21 of LaLiga held at Mestalla.