| Valencia (0) | Eibar (0) |
First it was Eibar. Then it was Huesca. For the 2nd consecutive week, Valencia condemned yet another team to the Segunda Division.
The 0-0 draw at El Alcoraz may have had no bearing on Los Che’s final 13th-placed finish – a fall from last season’s 9th – but the ramifications were severe for the hosts. No one would have blamed Huesca for cursing the misfortune wrought by their orange-clad reapers.
Valencia were clearly already on holiday. We came into the game with the league’s worst away form, with only 2 wins all season, and never looked like improving that record.
In contrast to the energised Huesca, the Bats seemed allergic to attacking football. Sloppy play and constant sideways and backwards passes pockmarked the 1st half. Time and again the ball fell to former Valencia man Rafa Mir and Sandro Ramirez, who came closest to giving the home side the advantage.
But the back 3 of Gabriel Paulista, Hugo Guillamon and Mouctar Diakhaby held firm, while man of the match Jasper Cillessen made several impeccable saves.
Interim coach Voro must have knocked some sense into the players at half-time. Valencia’s flair soon emerged as Lee Kang In and Goncalo Guedes began to strut their stuff. They would have combined for the opening goal in the 72nd minute if not for a poor final ball from the Portuguese.
Huesca then had a brief flicker of hope snuffed out minutes later as Mir looked to have headed the strugglers into the lead, only for VAR to rule him offside. Sandro then hit the upright 10 minutes before time with Cillessen well-beaten.
We repelled the onslaught and survived with a clean sheet – a flat end to a tepid campaign.
The boys have fought hard in a tough year that has finally come to a close. So for now, take a good rest, because we want to see a renewed and refreshed Valencia fighting from the get-go in August!
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