Category: Match Report

On a nerve-wracking evening at the Mestalla, Valencia dug deep to eke out a first win in five games, a performance powered by high-pressing football and creative flair in the final third.

So, so close. But not nearly enough. Although Valencia ended a horrid run of three consecutive losses, our hapless away form continues. Even the Europa League seems like a distant dream now.

The 51st regional derby showed who was bona fide European contender and who were the pretenders, much like the cardboard cut-outs filling the stands.

Welcome to the Mestalla, Goncalo Guedes. We’ve been expecting you. On a humid Sunday evening on home soil, Valencia’s 40 million dollar record signing produced a scintillating attacking performance to give Los Che their first win in 11 matches, reigniting their hopes of a top four finish in the process.

Well, that escalated quickly. A goal up on 89 minutes: 1-1 at the final whistle. On a stifling, slightly wild night at the Mestalla, Valencia failed to capitalise against a 10-man opposition — a lack of conviction and killer instinct permeating through a poor performance.

When he signed from Lyon in 2018, centre-back Moucktar Diakhaby was heralded as Valencia’s future defensive lynchpin. But he could well have played his last match for the club with a horror showing that destroyed our hopes of a Champions League comeback.