Match Report: 10-man Valencia CF fall to defeat away to FC Barcelona (4-2)
Valencia CF made a trip to Barcelona to take on FC Barcelona on Monday, the 29th of April at 9 pm kick-off time at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium following LaLiga’s rescheduling of the fixture on Matchday 33 of LaLiga EA Sports.
Valencia CF had a quiet start to the game under blustery and cold weather conditions. Valencia CF struggled to find a foothold in the early goings of the game with some defending to do at the Lluís Companys.
The first Valencia CF chance fell to Javi Guerra who got his shot away following a driving run but his low effort was deflected wide by a Barça player.
Hugo Duro got on the end of a Peter Federico surging run down the flank and he tried to poke it past Marc André Ter Stegen with a forceful backheel flick at the near post under the quarter-hour mark.
Peter Federico enjoyed a one-on-one situation following a great counter-attack, but he dragged his low drive wide of the mark.
Fermín made it 1-0 to FC Barcelona halfway through the first half. However, Hugo Duro capitalised on a goalkeeping clanger to expertly chest the rebound and then sweetly prod the ball home past Marc André Ter Stegen to cancel out Fermin’s opener.
Moments later, Peter Federico was felled by Ronald Araujo inside the box following a foray into the opposition box. The referee pointed to the spot and awarded the spot-kick.
Pepelu stepped up and dispatched the ball straight down the middle and past Ter Stegen to give Valencia CF the lead. Alas, shortly after Giorgi Mamardashvili was sent off for a straight red card offence after a VAR review after handling the ball outside the 18-yard box.
Valencia CF edged FC Barcelona by 1-2 at the Interval at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.
Valencia CF had a nervy start to the second half after going down to ten men. Only five minutes into the second half Valencia CF pulled FC Barcelona back level 2-2 through Robert Lewandowski.
Valencia CF showed their defensive stalls out halfway through the game trying to withstand the relentless waves of attacks from the opposition.
Rubén Baraja shuffled his pack with a double substitution with Javi Guerra and Hugo Duro making way for Hugo Guillmón and Alberto Marí.
Valencia CF had another foray forward following a great link-up between Peter Federico and Diego López who could not quite wrap his foot around the ball in his one one-on-one situation and miscued the ball which was collected by the opposition goalkeeper.
Robert Lewandowski made it 3-2 to FC Barcelona in the latter stages of the second half and then to add insult to injury, the aforementioned Robert Lewandowski made it 4-2 from a free kick deep into stoppage time and the full-time whistle was blown.
Valencia CF will host Club Deportivo Alavés on Sunday, May the 4th at 6:30 pm kick-off time at Mestalla on Matchday 34.
MATCH SHEET:
4. FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí (I. Martínez, 46’), Cancelo (Ferran Torres, 80’), Christensen (Sergi Roberto, 46’), Gundogan, Fermín (Pedri, 73’), Lamine Yamal, Raphinha (J. Félix, 65’) and Lewandowski.
2. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R., Cristhian Mosquera, Yarek, Jesús Vázquez, Pepelu, Javi Guerra (Hugo Duro, 70’), Peter Federico (Cenk, 78’), Diego López (Sergi Canós, 78’), André Almeida (Jaume Domènech, 45’+) and Hugo Duro (A. Marí, 70’).
GOALS: 1-0 Fermín, 21’; 1-1 Hugo Duro, 26’; 1-2 Pepelu, 38’; 2-2 Lewandowski, 49’; 3-2 Lewandowski, 83’; 4-2 Lewandowski, 94’.
REFEREE: De Burgos Bengoetxea. Booked Cubarsí, and sent offMamardashvili in the 45’+.
VAR: Jaime Latre.
OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 33 of LaLiga EA Sports held at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium (Barcelona).
