VCF fight back in preseason regional derby win ( 2-1)

Valencia CF play their second pre-season test against regional opposition Villarreal CF on the 28th of August at 8 pm kick-off time in Murcia in their second preseason test against regional opposition. 

Valencia CF had a quick start to the game with both sides fighting for the ball and exchanging possession with the opposition edging in the opening minutes of the first half. Minutes later, Samuel Chukwueze made it 0-1 to Villarreal CF. 

The match had a cagey spell after the opposition’s opening goal with Valencia CF trying to play a direct type of football at every opportunity through long balls in-behind the opposition backline.   

Valencia CF had an effort scrambled away by Raúl Albiol and moments later, they had the equalising goal disallowed for offside against Eliaquim Mangala following a free-kick outside the area. 

Daniel Wass delivered an inch-perfect cross from the right-wing after a brilliant overlapping run and Maximiliano Gómez got on the end of it with a powerful header from close range but he was denied the equaliser from point-blank range by Asenjo in the closing minutes of the first half.  

Valencia trailed Villarreal CF by 1-0 at the Intermission. 

The same script followed in the opening minutes of the second half. However, minutes later, Manu Vallejo came mighty close to scoring the equaliser following a José Luis Gayà cross from the left wing which was flicked on by Maximiliano Gómez into Manu Vallejo who could not slide it home and it went begging on 51 minutes.   

Jaume Doménech was called into action by Francis Coquelin with a powerful drive from outside the area but Jaume palmed it behind for a corner kick with a brilliant save close to the hour mark.  

Both sides shuffled their packs halfway through the second half and Maxi Gómez tenacity bore fruit. The Uruguayan nodded it past Sergio Asenjo from a corner kick to get Valencia CF back on level terms.  

Maxi Gómez put Valencia CF in front with little under twenty minutes left to play with a brilliant Gonçalo Guedes move. A bursting run past his marker and a great shimmy to sit him down and thread a brilliant ball into Maxi Gómez who turned it in at the far post across the keeper to pick up a well-worked brace and open his pre-season account. 

The remainder of the game played out without further incidents and Valencia CF registered back to back preseason regional derby wins. Valencia CF will welcome crosstown opposition Levante UD on Saturday at the Pinatar Arena chasing a full set of preseason derby wins as they are always a bonus. 

  Match Details:

 2. Valencia CF: Jaume Doménech, Wass, G. Paulista, Mangala, Gayà ©, Esquerdo, Račić (Thierry, min. 65), Jason (Yunus, min. 65), Guedes (Álex Blanco, min. 79), Manu Vallejo (Kang In, min. 65) and Maxi Gómez (Rubén Sobrino, min. 79).

1. Villarreal CF: Sergio Asenjo, Raúl Albiol (Chakla, min. 46), Pau Torres, Pedraza (Jaume Costa, min. 46), Peña, Parejo, Coquelin (Iborra, min. 66), Chukwueze, Moi Gómez (Kubo , min. 66), Gerard Moreno © and Paco Alcácer (Fernando Niño, min 66).

Goals: 0-1, min. 8: Chukwueze. 1-1, min. 65: Maxi Gómez. 2-1, min. 74: Maxi Gómez.

Referee: Fran Hernández. He booked Coquelin (min. 34), Parejo (min. 83) and Jaume Costa (min. 85) for Villarreal CF and Gayà (min. 56), Mangala (60 ') and Maxi Gómez (min. 77) for Valencia CF

Observations: Pre-season friendly played at the Pinatar Arena, Murcia behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.