Match Report: VCF fight back into top four with win over Alavés (3-1)

Valencia CF welcomed Alavés for their final home match on Sunday at 6:30 pm kick-off time on matchday 37 of LaLiga Santander. Marcelino’s side tried to end the Centenary season on a high in front of their fans.

Valencia CF had a quick start in the opening minutes. Santi Mina had the first opportunity for Valencia CF with a downwards header which went straight at Pacheco six minutes inside the first half.

Portuguese winger Gonçalo Guedes tried his luck after drifting in but his shot was deflected wide into the side-netting in the 10th-minute mark but a minute later, Ximo Navarro took the lead for Alavés against the run of play with a header that Jaume could not quite keep it out.

Carlos Soler got Valencia CF back on level terms just under the half-hour mark after a delightful Gabriel Paulista pass that was headed on by Duarte and into Carlos Soler’s feet who slotted it away from close range.

Santi Mina gave Valencia CF the lead with an absolute bullet of a header across the keeper following a superb Dani Parejo delivery from a corner kick just five minutes after Carlos Soler’s equaliser.  

Rodrigo Moreno came close to making it three for Valencia CF in the final minutes of the first half after a perfectly-weighted ball in from Daniel Wass but Rodrigo Moreno could not wrap his foot around it and his shot went wide.

The first half finished 2-1 for Valencia CF and Getafe CF were trailing at the Camp Nou at half-time.  

The second half started with Deportivo  Alavés back pegging and putting  Valencia CF under pressure looking to level things up in the opening minutes of the second half at Mestalla with Valencia CF doing some resolute defending.

The Frenchman Kevin Gameiro made it 3-1 for VCF with a downward header at the far post which bounced off the turf and over Pacheco after a pin-point cross from Jose Luis Gayà just two minutes after replacing Rodrigo Moreno.

Carlos Soler came close to grabbing his second of the game after a great collective move but he flashed his shot into the side-netting with five minutes of normal time left to play. The game finished 3-1 for Valencia CF.

The will visit Valladolid CF on Saturday at 8 pm kick-off time at the José Zorrilla for their final fixture on Matchday 38  with Valladolid having already secured safety with a 1-2 away win at Rayo Vallecano and nothing at stake. 

Match Details:

3. Valencia CF: Doménech, Piccini, Garay, G. Paulista, Gayà, Parejo, Wass (Diakhaby, m.81), Carlos Soler, Guedes, Rodrigo M. (Gameiro, m.65) and Santi Mina (Ferran, m 83).

1. Deportivo Alavés: Pacheco, Vigaray, Laguardia, Ximo Navarro, Duarte, Martín (Borja Bastón, m.65), Tomás Pina (Manu, m.74), Darko, Jony, Rolan (M. Wakaso, m.74) and Calleri.

Goals: 0-1. M. 12: Ximo Navarro. 1-1. M. 29: Carlos Soler. 2-1. M. 33: Santi Mina. 3-1. M. 67: Gameiro.

Referee: Cuadra Fernández. He booked Garay, G. Paulista for Valencia CF, and Darko, Borja Bastón, Tomás Pina and Laguardia for Deportivo Alavés.

Observations: Matchday 37 of LaLiga played on Sunday at 6.30 pm at Mestalla before 37,744 spectators.