Valencia and Seville sign a fast-paced tie that is worth little to them

Valencia and Sevilla signed a frenetic tie this Wednesday at Mestalla in a clash that saw a crazy first half in which an own goal from Mouctar Diakhaby and a header from Gonçalo Guedes accounted for the only two goals of the match and which represents a distribution of points that does not help the locals to rejoin Europe or the visitors to stay within range of Madrid. At least, it helps the former to put an end to two league defeats in a row and the latter to turn the page of the Cup elimination.

Valencia came out with its revolutionary system of three central defenders (including the young debutant Mosquera), five midfielders and Maxi in the stands due to being overweight and with the idea of ​​keeping Sevilla in their own field but it went wrong. Sevilla took advantage of it, led by Pablo Sanz replacing Julen Lopetegui (he left at the last minute as Augustinsson due to an indisposition that seems prior to COVID-19). After six minutes, he surpassed that first line and looked for Rafa Mir with a center without apparent danger that Diakhaby cleared to beat Cillessen and open the scoring.

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The script sped up. Ocampos was able to sentence with a header at the exit of a corner but the Dutchman was firm and Gayà managed to equalize but the linesman annulled it for offside. Events followed one another dizzyingly and the Valencian goalkeeper withdrew injured. Twenty minutes had not yet passed of the game, which came with a new protest from Mestalla against Peter Lim, the club’s largest shareholder.

Jaume Doménech was placed under the sticks, advancing Mamardashvili in the rotation. The third goalkeeper, Javi Díaz, was also in the opposite goal due to the casualties of the Moroccan Bono and Dmitrovic, due to COVID-19. They were ‘only’ two of the eleven visiting casualties between the coronavirus, injuries and the African Cup. Not counting your technician.

Bordalás redrew Valencia towards the classic 4-4-2 and launched his team for the tie with more desire than order and with Guedes and Gayà as stilettos. Sevilla was about to sentence twice but Rafa Mir’s shot crashed into the base of the post and Rakitic finished with a loose header. He paid dearly for his pardon. When it seemed that the break was coming, what came was the tie thanks to a strong header from Guedes to a center from Gayà. There was still time for a threat of tangana after an impetuous reaction from Acuña and that Soto Grado and the VAR annulled an ‘orange’ card to Rekik for being the last player due to a questionable hand from Duro.

(+) See the goals and the summary of the match

Once again Valencia started pushing Sevilla towards their area with high and aggressive pressure but the clash was losing strength. Sanz made his debut for the Mexican Tecatito to revitalize the visitors and Bordalás brought in Marcos André. More wood. It was the new Sevilla player who was able to score but he also forgave.

The game was nearing its end with both teams eager but lacking precision, which left Gayà’s expulsion for a double yellow card as the only highlight of the end.