Tag: Valencia

Alvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappe’s goals earned Real Madrid a battling 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday to close the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona to one point.

After the Spanish champions had beaten Mallorca on Saturday, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side eked out a tight victory at Mestalla to keep the pressure on their arch-rivals.

Missing suspended forward Vinicius Junior and injured midfielder Jude Bellingham, Los Blancos lacked sparkle but did just enough to claim three points on Spain’s east coast.

England international Trent Alexander-Arnold made his return after injury as a substitute in the second half of Madrid’s victory.

Arbeloa’s side had the better chances in the first half but failed to create danger on a consistent basis in a gritty encounter.

Arda Guler’s shot deflected narrowly wide, while Valencia stopper Stole Dimitrievski saved well with his legs from Mbappe’s fierce drive.

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Real Madrid right-back David Jimenez, from the club’s youth academy, came closest to scoring after French superstar Mbappe teed him up, but the Macedonian goalkeeper denied him, too.

Midway through the second half, Carreras conjured a goal out of nothing to give Madrid the lead.

Drifting inside from the left of the box, the defender used his weaker right foot to stroke the ball inside Dimitrievski’s near post.

Valencia might have levelled but Lucas Beltran’s effort on the stretch beat Thibaut Courtois and clipped the post.

Arbeloa brought on Alexander-Arnold for his first appearance since early December following a thigh injury, as Madrid looked to close out the game.

They eventually secured the three points in stoppage time as Brahim Diaz teed up La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe, who finished calmly for his 23rd goal in the competition this season.

Valencia’s fans, some of whom had waved white handkerchieves during the match in protest at the club’s situation, headed for the exits with Los Che 17th, one point above the drop zone.

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Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Fermin Lopez struck twice each as Barcelona thumped Valencia 6-0 on Sunday in a La Liga match they were forced to play at their tiny training ground stadium because of delays in reopening the Camp Nou.

The rampant Spanish champions moved second, two points behind leaders Real Madrid, who boast a 100 percent record after their win at Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Hosting the game at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium beside their training facilities west of the city, with the rebuilt Camp Nou not yet permitted to open, Barca’s first home game of the season saw high-calibre football in a low-key setting.

Star forward Lamine Yamal’s absence due to a groin issue was a further blow for Barca, with coach Hansi Flick criticising the Spanish national team for playing him twice despite the problem during World Cup qualifiers last week.

However, Barcelona’s display, above all in the second half, helped them forget his absence and their disappointing draw at Rayo Vallecano in their previous La Liga outing.

“I appreciate what I saw today a lot, and this is a start after the break,” said Flick, who was upset with his players after the Rayo game a fortnight ago.

Lopez said last season’s winners of a domestic treble were on the right track.

“The message is the same as last year, to play with intensity and humility. I think we’re on a good path, and we have to continue like this,” said the midfielder.

Flick handed Roony Bardghji his debut on the right flank in Yamal’s stead after his summer arrival from Copenhagen.

Barcelona dominated Valencia in the first half without creating many clear-cut chances.

Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres fired narrowly over and wide, respectively, as Flick’s side penned in the visitors.

Lopez, linked with a move to Chelsea during the summer, dug in to stay at Barca and proved his worth against Los Che.

Barca took the lead after 29 minutes when Torres flicked on a pass into the midfielder’s path.

Lopez scampered into the box and flashed a strike across Julen Agirrezabala and into the net.

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Carlos Corberan’s Valencia, 15th, did not muster a shot in the first half against Barca’s 11, playing conservatively after a 7-1 thrashing by the Blaugrana in January.

Flick brought on Raphinha for the quiet Bardghji at half-time as he sought to put the game to bed, and soon had the goals he wanted.

Rashford, on his brightest outing since joining from Manchester United on loan, whipped in a dangerous cross which Raphinha slid home at the far post.

It was Rashford’s first direct goal contribution since arriving at the club.

Three minutes later, Lopez blasted in a third from long range, which goalkeeper Agirrezabala might have dealt with better.

“Today is a great step for (Lopez) and this is what I want to see every match,” said Flick.

“He has amazing quality… and when he has this confidence, he’s really great, (but) I think he can still improve.”

Raphinha smashed in Barca’s fourth at the near post as the Catalans ran riot.

Flick shuffled his pack with Thursday’s Champions League opener in mind, bringing on Polish veteran Lewandowski and Dani Olmo.

The 37-year-old striker grabbed his first goal of the season with a lethal finish after Olmo played him in behind the defence.

Flick was also able to bring on midfielder Marc Bernal following a long absence after a severe knee injury, and he set up Lewandowski to dink home the sixth.

“It seems like they’ve got the measure of us,” said Valencia defender Jose Gaya.

“We weren’t capable of diminishing their strengths once again; it was a big scoreline again…

“We tried to stop them with our game plan, but the second goal did us a lot of damage. We couldn’t stop it, and then came the third.”

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Barcelona will use the tiny Johan Cruyff stadium at their training ground to host Valencia in La Liga on Sunday, with the Spotify Camp Nou not yet licensed to reopen amid a rebuild.

The Spanish champions had hoped to play before a reduced crowd at their Camp Nou home, as construction continues, but have not acquired the correct permits to do so.

“The club is working intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits to open Spotify Camp Nou in the coming weeks,” said the club in a statement.

“Barcelona thanks its members, fans, and supporters for their understanding and support during such a complex and exciting process as the return to the new Spotify Camp Nou.”

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The Johan Cruyff Stadium, where Barca’s women’s team regularly plays, holds around 6,000 spectators.

Barcelona closed the Camp Nou for building work at the end of the 2022/23 season, aiming to partially reopen the stadium in November 2024.

They played their home matches at the Olympic stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill until the end of last season, as the return date was repeatedly pushed back because of delays in construction and problems obtaining licenses.

A concert from American Rapper Post Malone on Friday at the Olympic Stadium means Barcelona cannot return there this weekend.

Barcelona is estimated to be paying 1.5 billion euros ($1.75 billion) for the Camp Nou rebuild, which is due to be completed in 2026.

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Barcelona blew away a miserable Valencia 7-1 on Sunday to get back on track in La Liga with a ruthless victory.

Fermin Lopez struck twice for the Catalans in the first half, along with goals from Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres and Raphinha which gave Barcelona a commanding five-goal lead at the break.

Hugo Duro pulled one back early in the second half before Robert Lewandowski pounced for Barca, followed by a Cesar Tarrega own goal, with the third-placed hosts earning just their second win in their last nine league matches.

Hansi Flick’s side trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid by seven points and second-placed Atletico Madrid by three.

“I think in La Liga we were in a bad dynamic and we needed this win, it’s very important and now we have to keep fighting,” Lopez told DAZN.

“The coach says everyone in the team is important, and whoever is playing we have to be up to it — that’s what being a team is and that’s how we can compete for the title.

“There’s still a long way to go and we will fight until the end.”

Flick shuffled his pack against Valencia in order to spark a response given the club’s poor domestic form.

The coach began with Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo on the bench, while Pedri was absent because of a stomach bug, leading to De Jong, Ferran Torres and the superb Lopez all starting.

It took just three minutes for De Jong to open the scoring, with teenage star Lamine Yamal crossing for him in the area virtually unmarked, and he fired home.

Barcelona soon had their second, with Torres tucking home from Alejandro Balde’s cross, in similar fashion to the first goal but from the opposite flank.

The hosts moved three goals ahead in the 14th minute when Lopez clipped a fine ball over the top for Raphinha to run onto.

The Brazilian winger rounded Giorgi Mamardashvili and rolled home for his 12th league goal of the season.

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Valencia, without the suspended Cristhian Mosquera, were struggling badly in defence and Barcelona broke in seemingly at will.

Lopez collected a perfectly measured Pau Cubarsi long pass for the fourth and although it was initially ruled offside, the decision was corrected by VAR.

Valencia thought they had won a penalty when Wojciech Szczesny brought down Hugo Duro but play was eventually brought back for a foul on Jules Kounde after another video review.

Lopez rattled home the fifth on the volley before half-time when Raphinha’s effort hit the post and fell nicely for him with the goalkeeper stranded.

Hugo Duro pulled one back for Valencia before the hour mark from Diego Lopez’s low cross and Flick responded by sending on La Liga’s top goalscorer Lewandowski.

The Polish forward finished clinically for his 17th league goal of the season after being sent through by Lopez for Barca’s sixth on the night.

Barcelona netted their seventh when Torres’ hammered cross was deflected into his own net by Tarrega.

“For me it was the perfect match,” Flick told reporters. “(Fermin) today showed how good he was… he attacked everything and defended very well, with the ball he was unbelievable.”

Seven goals did not flatter Barcelona by any means and the thrashing is a setback for Carlos Corberan’s Valencia, 19th and four points from safety.

“I feel angry and sad for all the people who came to see us, all the fans watching at home, we have to say sorry because we weren’t up to the level of the game or the shirt that we represent,” said Valencia defender Jose Gaya.

“It was an enormous step backwards, we have to ask for forgiveness… we have to feel hurt after this, we can’t forget it, we have to focus that energy and rage into the next game.”

Earlier Athletic Bilbao, fourth, could only produce a 0-0 draw at home against Leganes, and now trail Barcelona by two points.

Relegation-battling Getafe earned an impressive 3-0 win at Real Sociedad to climb to 14th, while Rayo Vallecano came from behind to beat Girona 2-1.

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BARCELONA: Polish striker Robert Lewandowski struck a hat-trick to power the home team to a dominant 4-2 victory over Valencia during their La Liga clash at Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys on Monday.

Barcelona earned three points and edged past Girona to reach second position, only behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Mid-fielder Fermin Lopez earned the advantage for the home team in 22 minutes as he sent a header into the top corner of the net from near the penalty spot.

However, Valencia’s Hugo Duro levelled the scores four minutes later after an error from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

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Barcelona made another error in the next ten minutes when Ronald Araujo brought down a Valencia forward and conceded a foul.

Valencia earned the penalty and Pepelu successfully converted to put the visitors ahead.

But Valencia lost their goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili after he was shown a red card, prompting the visiting team to reshuffle their lineup on the stroke of the first half.

This proved costly as Lewandowski hit the equalizer for Barcelona five minutes into the second half after finding Ilkay Gundogan’s corner. The Polish star hit another header in the 82nd minute to end the stalemate.

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Lewandowski completed his hat trick during injury-time with a free-kick into the top left corner.

“I think the team did well… we lacked calmness, tranquillity, but I’m satisfied with the team’s attitude,” Barcelona boss Xavi said after the match.

Barcelona will play their next La Liga match against third-ranked Girona on 4 May.

Girona are chasing Champions League qualification which they could secure with a victory, which could also hand Madrid the title.

“It’ll be a great game, two teams looking to go on the attack,” said Xavi, whose side lost 4-2 at home against Girona in December.

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PAMPLONA: Croatian striker Ante Budimir missed a crucial last-minute penalty, resulting in Osasuna losing against Valencia during their La Liga clash at El Sadar Stadium on Monday.

Valencia were on the cusp of a comfortable 1-0 victory when the home team earned a penalty in the dying minutes of the game to level the scores.

Budimir was entrusted with the responsibility to take the crucial strike, however, he blew the chance with a disastrous effort.

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He started a stuttered run-up and took a weak shot which went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Both teams entered the game carrying momentum from victories in their last games.

Within the first ten minutes, Osasuna nearly scored, but Moi Gomez’s shot was blocked, causing the home team to miss their chance at taking the lead.

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However, Andre Almeida took the visitors ahead after he found Diego Lopez in the 17th minute and hit the bottom left corner of the net to score the only goal of the match.

Valencia will play their next La Liga match against Real Betis on 20 April, while Osasuna will face Rayo Vallecano on the same day.

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Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby has undergone surgery on the severe knee injury he suffered playing against Real Madrid in La Liga last weekend, his club said on Friday.

“It was an arduous operation, but a success,” Valencia doctor Pedro Lopez said in a video published by the club.

“It involved the reconstruction of multiple ligaments but we are happy with how it went,” he added, revealing that “many ligament structures were damaged”.

The 27-year-old French-born Guinea international centre-back dislocated his right knee in the 86th minute of the 2-2 draw last Sunday.

He collapsed to the ground in agony in his own penalty box, the leg buckling as Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni fell into him.

It was immediately clear the injury was extremely serious, and Diakhaby spent the next 48 hours under observation in hospital in Valencia.

He then travelled to the French city of Lyon to undergo an operation performed by renowned knee surgeon Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet.

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Lopez, the Valencia doctor, said Diakhaby would stay for the next two weeks in Lyon where he will undergo tests and then start his rehabilitation.

“He might undergo an arthroscopy in six weeks”, said Lopez, adding that the player will “gradually begin the recovery process”.

However, he did not give a timeframe for Diakhaby to return to action.

“The situation now is about looking forward and remaining optimistic. In all this long process that awaits us it is really important that the player keeps his spirits up.”

Spanish media reports have suggested Diakhaby faces at least 10 months on the sidelines.

Mouctar Diakhaby made his professional breakthrough at Lyon and played 55 top-team games for them before moving to Valencia in 2018 for a reported 15 million euros. He featured in the Valencia team that won the Copa del Rey in 2019.

Having been capped by France at Under-21 level, he later chose to play for Guinea and recently helped them reach the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

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VALENCIA: Vinicius Junior scored a brace to help Real Madrid make a comeback and register a 2-2 draw against Valencia in the ongoing La Liga 2023-24 at Mestalla Stadium on Saturday.

La Liga leaders Real Madrid entered the Mestella Stadium with a 20-match undefeated streak in the league, which is their best-undefeated run since a 23-match streak in 2011-12.

However, they were caught off-guard by the Valencia attack in the first half as Roman Yaremchuk created a chance in the 11th minute.

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They did not take long and earned the advantage with a header from the centre of the box by Hugo Duro in the 27th minute.

Yaremchuk doubled the lead three minutes later as he took advantage of a miscommunication between Dani Carvajal and Andriy Lunin. He netted the empty net to make it 2-0, much to the frustration of the table-toppers.

The home team was poised to go into half-time with a 2-0 lead, however, Vinicius Jr. rained on their parade, scoring a brilliant goal at the stroke of half-time.

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Vinicius found a cross from Brahim Diaz and scored a brilliant header from a close range to level the score in the 76th minute.

In other La Liga clashes, Getafe and Las Palmas settled for a 3-3 stalemate at Estadio Coliseum, while Rayo Vallecano drew 1-1 with Cadiz at Estadio Coliseum.

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