Match Report: Valencia CF stun Chelsea in UCL opener (0-1)

Valencia CF opened their Champions League campaign away at Chelsea FC at 8 pm BST (9 PM CEST) trying to bring their winless run against Chelsea FC to an end.

Celades’ side were trying to knock the ball around in the first minutes of the game as the host were looking to hit Valencia CF on the break and pressing high up the pitch. Chelsea were forced into a substitution fifteen minutes into the game as Mason Mount was replaced by Pedro Rodriguez.

Valencia CF settled into the game over the 15-minute mark with very good positioning and looking tidy at the back. Valencia CF enjoyed their first chance on 28 minutes following a quick team move which was finished off by Rodrigo but the ball hit Gameiro’s legs on its way in.

Valencia CF set the stalls out at the back with some resolute defending and a stunning Cilllessen stop to Willian in the closing minutes to keep the scoreline locked together at 0-0 at the break with all to play for in the second period.

The same script followed in the second half with Valencia CF on the backfoot and trying to pass their way through the Chelsea FC defense when in possession and staying tight at the back.  Kevin Gameiro enjoyed Valencia CF first clear-cut chance from a corner kick but his effort flew over the bar close to the hour mark.

 Jasper Cillessen pulled off another sensational save to Marcos Alonso’s low drive which went through the wall but the Dutchman managed to turn it around the post.

Albert Celades made a like-for-like swap Kevin Gameiro made way for Maxi Gómez with little over twenty minutes of normal time left to play.

Rodrigo Moreno broke the deadlock following a smart Dani Parejo ball over the top and Rodrigo got on the end of it with a clever bending run to volley it home from close range at the near post into the top-left corner past Kepa and give Valencia CF the lead.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty for a Daniel Wass handball after a VAR review but Ross Barkley’s spot-kick whistled over the bar. The scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF came away with all three points from Stamford Bridge as they brought their winless run at Chelsea to an end.

Valencia CF switch their attention to LaLiga were they will host Leganés at Mestalla at 4 pm looking to pick up back-to-back home wins and Celades’ first LaLiga win as a Valencia CF head coach on Matchday 5 of LaLiga Santander.   

Match Details:

0. Chelsea FC: Kepa, Zouma (Giroud, min. 72), A. Christensen, Tomori, Azpilicueta ©, Kovacic (Barkley, min. 79), Jorginho, Alonso, Mount (Pedro, min. 15), Willian  and Abraham.

1. Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Garay, G. Paulista, Gayà, Kondogbia, Coquelin, Parejo ©, Cheryshev (Diakhaby, min. 90+2), Rodrigo (Kang In, min. 89) y Gameiro (Maxi Gómez, min. 69).

Goals: 0-1, min. 74: Rodrigo.

Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey). Booked Jorginho (32’) for Chelsea and Coquelin for VCF

Observations: UEFA Champions League group H Matchday 1 played at Stamford Bridge before 39,469 spectators.