Valencia Champions League Roundup

Photo: valanciacf.es

On Tuesday, September 13, Valencia opened their Champions League season away at Belgian Champions, Genk. It was Valencia’s first away match of the season and they gave a strong showing, though will feel hard done by the end result, a 0-0 draw.

Valencia seemed to opt for a wide game against Genk, with four of their six shots in the first 20 minutes coming from headers. Most of them were off target, but a flick from Roberto Soldado found Victor Ruiz unmarked in the six yard box, and the youngster found the target, beating the Genk keeper, László Köteles. Unfortunately, Ruiz would not celebrate his first goal for VCF and in the Champions League, as a Genk defender was waiting at the far post and cleared off the line.

Valencia would keep pushing for a goal, forcing a good save from the Genk keeper off a shot from Pablo Piatti. Köteles couldn’t push it out for the corner and Piatti snatched up the rebound. He spotted Soldado in the box and crossed the ball in. The ball was a bit over his head, however, and Soldado didn’t opt for the bicycle kick with Köteles off his line which resulted in him losing possession and the chance slipped away. Valencia would control the match, despite a few flurries from Genk, and went into the dressing room for the halftime wondering how they hadn’t scored.

The second half started much like the first, with Genk coming out strong, but fading fast. Valencia would have the first clear chance of the half with Soldado bursting down the right hand side. His cross found Dani Parejo at the top of the box, but his excellent shot was well met by a better save from Köteles. Valencia kept coming, and another glorious chance almost saw VCF take the lead spectacular fashion. A cross from Piatti, who was booming down the right side on this attack, found Adil Rami, who had pushed forward. Like in the earlier instance, where the cross was a bit behind Soldado, Piatti’s right footed cross was also a bit behind Rami. Rami, however, did not shy away from the bicycle kick and slammed the ball towards goal. His shot crashed against the crossbar, however, and the game remained 0-0.

Soon after, Genk would have their best chance of the game, to that point, after some fumbling around in the box allowed the ball to fall to a Genk striker whose shot force an excellent reaction save from new signing Diego Alves.

The last real chance of the game for Valencia would come from Ever Banega, who received the ball at the top of the box after a Genk player lost out in a tackle to Ariz Aduriz. Banega’s shot, however, didn’t lack any kind of power and Köteles held it with ease. Meanwhile at the other end of the pitch, Genk went out with a shout as Alves was forced to make a close range save. 

Valencia will be wondering why they didn't win this game, and have only themselves and Mr. Köteles to blame"

Valencia will be wondering why they didn’t win this game, and have only themselves and Mr. Köteles to blame. The Genk keeper had an excellent game (and some pretty good luck) to keep Valencia out. Genk, on the other hand, will be cursing themselves for not snatching the game in the final minutes. Genk visit Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 2, while Valencia hosts Chelsea. It should prove to be a bitter sweet affair as it also marks Juan Mata’s homecoming as he plays against Valencia for the first time.

Line-ups:

KRC Genk: Koteles; Ngcongca, Nadson, Simaeys, Pudil; Ndabashinze, Hubert, Tozser, Buffel (Camus, min. 85); Vossen (Barda, min. 80) y Nwanganga (Ogunjimi, min. 63).

Valencia CF: Diego Alves; Miguel, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Mathieu; Topal, Éver Banega, Parejo (Aduriz, min. 74); Feghouli (Pablo, min. 69), Piatti (Canales, min. 79), Soldado.

Line-ups from Loco4losche.com

By: David Wall