| Valencia (1) | Alaves (2) |
| Goncalo Guedes 62′ (P) | Mamadou Loum 14′ Joselu 76′ (P) |
That’s 6 games without a win, 2 points from a possible 18. Valencia are floundering badly and the only realistic way back to Europe is to win the Copa del Rey.
From the get go at Estadio de Mendizorroza, Los Che were on the back foot. Relegation candidates Alaves – who had not won since November last year – resembled a European-chasing side while we simply could not get a grip on the game, which the hosts won 2-1.
Jose Bordalas rang the changes after an exhausting cup encounter against Athletic Bilbao just 2 days ago, but it was clear early on that the replacements were not up to the task. Within 15 minutes, Senegalese midfielder Mamadou Loum pounced on a loose ball quickest to open the scoring after Giorgi Mamardashvili parried a shot from a corner.
The Valencia players slept right through that wake up call. Alaves, who were 19th ahead of the match, cut through the Bats’ defence like hot butter. Bordalas must have had enough, for he sanctioned a triple substitution at half-time to sharpen the attack.
A brief salvation came just past the hour mark as former Los Che man Jason Remeseiro was adjudged to have handled the ball by VAR, and top scorer Goncalo Guedes tucked home the penalty for his 10th goal in all competitions.
But it was not to be. Valencia were undone by a penalty at the other end when Yunus Musah committed a foul while attempting a clearance in the box in the 76th minute. Joselu – incidentally a top striker target for us – sent Mamardashvili the wrong way.
Despite a late surge forward, Valencia just could not find the target. Europa League qualification via a league finish is surely out of reach. All hope is not lost, though, as there is another route. But first up, Barcelona in a week’s time.
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