The match between the Valencianistas and the Malaguistas began with the home side looking for Willy Caballero’s area but without creating any real chances in the first five minutes. Málaga, for their part, pushed upfront and with some moves in the centre of the pitch complicated matters for the Valencia defence, especially with a low shot from Cazorla and another by Rondón.
While Valencia played more directly with deep passes to Soldado, Málaga wheeled out attack moves that often ended by troubling Alves’ goal, with Isco and Joaquín’s sharp passes to the Blue and Whites’ Venezuelan forward.
With just a shot by Miguel, that Willy saved, as the exception, the Valencianista danger came from the wings, although Pellegrini’s men were robust in defence by generating many important counter-attacks, such as when Joaquín’s pass ended with a dead ball. The ex-Valencia player was properly pummelled from both wings, and he brought out all the dodges he could as his teammates formed a wall with their attack players.
And as they had been doing from the start, Valencia achieved an early lead on the scoreboard after a recovery three quarters down the pitch that Jonas took advantage of by passing to Soldado, who was then able to shoot it to the back of Caballero’s net.
With the feeling that they were getting little benefit for the great way that they were playing, the Malaguista players continued playing their game, dominating and controlling the ball, but without securing the deserved draw in this first half, meaning Valencia walked away with the advantage in the initial 45 minutes.
The match restarted with Málaga in the same vein, attacking and taking corners that still didn’t get the successful outcome that the Malaguistas were so looking for.
Without doubt these were Málaga’s finest moments in play and attack, but once again, Valencia showed off the quality of two of their players: Jordi Alba and Soldado, the latter going on score the second goal thanks to a pass from the right wing.
The two-nil could’ve closed down the game, but Málaga’s didn’t view it like that and with Isco, Joaquín, Cazorla and then with Van Nistelrooy who came on for Juanmi, they battled to close the gap as quickly as possible; but coincidentally, these were the minutes in which Valencia attacked the most since the beginning of the match.
With three substitutions made – Duda and Seba went on for Isco and Rondón – the Blue and Whites squad had a great double opportunity to score but neither Van Nistelrooy in the first instance, nor Duda in the second, were able to materialise the situation. For his part, Soldado also had various chances, showing that he was the only one in his team that was causing any real bother for Willy Caballero with his quality and eye for a goal.
And with an exchange of attacks between both the team, the match ended with two goals to nil to Valencia. With this result, Málaga ends 2011 with 24 points, occupying the seventh position, drawing sixth place on the BBVA League table.
Match details
Valencia CF: Alves, Miguel, Rami,V. Ruiz, Jordi Alba, Albelda, Banega (Parejo 82’), Feghouli (Pablo H. 78’), Jonas (Piatti 88’), Mathieu and Soldado.
Málaga CF: Willy, Gámez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal, Joaquín, Toulalan, Cazorla, Isco (Duda 75’) , Juanmi (van Nistelrooy 65’) and Rondón (Seba 75’).
Goals:
1-0 (36’): Soldado
2-0 (61’): Soldado
Referee:
Iglesias Villanueva, Galician colleg. Cards for Valencia’s Albelda, Banega, Miguel and Pablo H.; and Málaga’s Mathijsen and Demichelis.
Notes:
The 17th match of the BBVA League that took place in the Mestalla de Valencia stadium.
While Valencia played more directly with deep passes to Soldado, Málaga wheeled out attack moves that often ended by troubling Alves’ goal, with Isco and Joaquín’s sharp passes to the Blue and Whites’ Venezuelan forward.
With just a shot by Miguel, that Willy saved, as the exception, the Valencianista danger came from the wings, although Pellegrini’s men were robust in defence by generating many important counter-attacks, such as when Joaquín’s pass ended with a dead ball. The ex-Valencia player was properly pummelled from both wings, and he brought out all the dodges he could as his teammates formed a wall with their attack players.
And as they had been doing from the start, Valencia achieved an early lead on the scoreboard after a recovery three quarters down the pitch that Jonas took advantage of by passing to Soldado, who was then able to shoot it to the back of Caballero’s net.
With the feeling that they were getting little benefit for the great way that they were playing, the Malaguista players continued playing their game, dominating and controlling the ball, but without securing the deserved draw in this first half, meaning Valencia walked away with the advantage in the initial 45 minutes.
The match restarted with Málaga in the same vein, attacking and taking corners that still didn’t get the successful outcome that the Malaguistas were so looking for.
Without doubt these were Málaga’s finest moments in play and attack, but once again, Valencia showed off the quality of two of their players: Jordi Alba and Soldado, the latter going on score the second goal thanks to a pass from the right wing.
The two-nil could’ve closed down the game, but Málaga’s didn’t view it like that and with Isco, Joaquín, Cazorla and then with Van Nistelrooy who came on for Juanmi, they battled to close the gap as quickly as possible; but coincidentally, these were the minutes in which Valencia attacked the most since the beginning of the match.
With three substitutions made – Duda and Seba went on for Isco and Rondón – the Blue and Whites squad had a great double opportunity to score but neither Van Nistelrooy in the first instance, nor Duda in the second, were able to materialise the situation. For his part, Soldado also had various chances, showing that he was the only one in his team that was causing any real bother for Willy Caballero with his quality and eye for a goal.
And with an exchange of attacks between both the team, the match ended with two goals to nil to Valencia. With this result, Málaga ends 2011 with 24 points, occupying the seventh position, drawing sixth place on the BBVA League table.
Match details
Valencia CF: Alves, Miguel, Rami,V. Ruiz, Jordi Alba, Albelda, Banega (Parejo 82’), Feghouli (Pablo H. 78’), Jonas (Piatti 88’), Mathieu and Soldado.
Málaga CF: Willy, Gámez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal, Joaquín, Toulalan, Cazorla, Isco (Duda 75’) , Juanmi (van Nistelrooy 65’) and Rondón (Seba 75’).
Goals:
1-0 (36’): Soldado
2-0 (61’): Soldado
Referee:
Iglesias Villanueva, Galician colleg. Cards for Valencia’s Albelda, Banega, Miguel and Pablo H.; and Málaga’s Mathijsen and Demichelis.
Notes:
The 17th match of the BBVA League that took place in the Mestalla de Valencia stadium.
