Match Report: VCF fight back to winning ways at RCDE (1-2)

Valencia CF visited Real Club Deportivo Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Matchday 12 of LaLiga Santander at 1 pm kick-off time local time. The game started at high intensity at both ends.

Denis Cheryshev had the first chance of the game for Valencia CF connecting with a Maxi Gómez probing ball from the right which the Russian sliced over the crossbar just seven minutes into the game.

Jasper Cillesen produced a brilliant save two minutes later tipping Sergi Darder’s drive behind for a corner and then keeping out a header.

Real Club Deportivo Espanyol were awarded a penalty for a Geoffrey Kondogbia handball and Marc Roca made it 1-0 to the home team on the half-hour mark where Espanyol had much of the possession.   

Rodrigo Moreno had another good chance to make it 1-1 following a decent piece of play after beating the offside trap but his shot flew over the crossbar. Valencia CF were trailing 1-0 at half-time.

Valencia CF came out in the second half looking to level things up with two great arrivals into the Real Club Deportivo Espanyol box and a penalty decision overturned by the referee after a long VAR review.

Albert Celades made a double substitution introducing Rubén Sobrino for Ferran Torres and Manuel Vallejo for Denis Cheryshev over the hour mark in an eventful second half at the RCDE Stadium.       

Víctor Gómez fouled Rodrigo Moreno inside the box and this time Valencia CF were awarded the spot-kick. Dani Parejo stepped up and smashed it past Diego López with little over 20 minutes left to go to bag his sixth goal of the season.

Geoffrey Kondobia tried his luck minutes later from outside the box that went inches wide of the left post with Valencia CF in the ascendency after the penalty equalising goal from Dani Parejo.

Maxi Gómez put VCF in front late on heading home an inch-perfect delivery from his partner up top Rodrigo Moreno after a quick exchange down the left wing. The Uruguayan guided his glancing header inside the near post to give Valencia CF the lead.

Substitute Ruben Sobrino was forced off the field and replaced by Jose Luis Gayà. Rodrigo Moreno came close to making it three by rounding Diego López deep into stoppage time but the game finished 1-2 for Valencia CF.

Valencia CF fought back to winning ways at RCDE in an eventful meeting in Barcelona. Valencia CF will be back in Champions League action against LOSC at Mestalla at 9 pm kick-off time in a must-win game on Matchday 4.

 Match Details:

RCD Espanyol: Diego López, Víctor Gómez, Naldo, Bernardo, David López, Pedrosa, Víctor Sánchez, Marc Roca, Darder, Wu Lei (Matías Vargas, 65 ’) and Ferreyra (Víctor Campuzano, 74’).

Valencia CF: Cillessen, Wass, Garay, Diakhaby, Jaume Costa, Kondogbia, Parejo, Ferran Torres (Sobrino, 63 ’- Gayà, 88’), Cheryshev (Manu Vallejo, 63 ’), Rodrigo and Maxi Gómez.

Goals: 1-0 Marc Roca (p.), M. 32; 1-1Parejo (p.), M. 69; 1-2 Maxi Gómez, m. 79.

Referee: Pizarro Gómez (Madrid). He booked Kondogbia for VCF (31 ’).

Observations: LaLiga Matchday 12 played at RCDE Stadium on Saturday at 1 pm kick-off time.