VCF Demolish Genk 7-0

Last Wednesday Valencia kept their Champions League hopes alive with a 7-0 thrashing of Racing Genk in the Mestalla. Valencia played extremely well, dominating possession and creating loads of chances. For once, Valencia’s aim was there too, and VCF managed to put 7 past Koteless, who had a good game despite the lopsided score line. The game included an excellent hat trick from Roberto Soldado, a long distance effort from Jonas, and Aduriz’s first goal of the season. Aduriz’s goal was well taken, with VCF fans hoping he can continue bagging them on a regular basis from here on out, as an alternative leading scorer to Soldado has yet to materialize. Despite the excellent performance from Soldado for his 3 goals, the man of the match award has to go to Jonas. Jonas pulled the strings from midfield, just as he did against Real Madrid. More and more he is looking like a creative force in midfield and is shedding his frontman skin. Jonas still has an eye for goals though, and got himself on the score sheet, as well as a hat trick of assists on the day. If Jonas can keep this form up Valencia will have one of the most creative midfields in La Liga, when Banega and Sergio Canales return to full health. 


The only controversy of the game came about in the form of a managerial error on the part of VCF. Pablo Piatti was supposed to start, but due to an error on the team sheet, Sofiane Feghouli started the match. Feghouli played well, but Piatti will feel hard done now that another chance to prove himself has flown by, this time through no fault of his own. Still though, Piatti would come on in the second half and had a decent overall performance. The team played excellently, and if they continue this form they will put pressure on Real Madrid and Barcelona for the league title, as well as advancing in the Champions League.

One must take all of this success with a grain of salt, however. In Leverkusen, Bayer Leverkusen was able to hold on to all 3 points with a late winner against Chelsea that same match day meaning that Valencia has to win at Stanford Bridge the next Champions League match day to ensure progression to the next round. A draw will push them through if Leverkusen also draws or loses, but they cannot count on those resultsand will have to look for all the points against Chelsea, which is no easy feat. If Valencia loses, they are eliminated but the silver lining to all this is that, should Valencia not progress, they are still positioned to advance to the Europa League.  While this will be seen as a loss, winning the Europa League is still an impressive feat and comes with VCF prize money, preserving the prospect of competing in Europe if they are eliminated from the Champions League. That being said, the objective is to stay in the most prestigious club tournament in the world, so Valencia will look to Stanford Bridge with only thoughts of victory. against Genk Valencia

Valencia CF: Alves, Miguel, Rami, Víctor Ruiz (Parejo, m.46), Mathieu; Topal, Tino Costa; Pablo Hernández, Jonas, Feghouli (Piatti, 57); Soldado (Aduriz, m.65)

KRC Genk: Koteless, Vanden Borre, Nadson, Hyland (Limbombe, m.61), Pudil; Camus, Tozser, Buffel, De Bruyne; Barda (Nwanganga, m.71), Vossen (Sarr, m.46).

Goals: 1-0, m. 9: Jonas. 2-0, m.12: Soldado. 3-0, m.35: Soldado. 4-0, m.39: Soldado. 5-0, m.67: Pablo Hernández; 6-0, m.70: Aduriz. 7-0, m.81: Tino Costa.

By: David Wall 
Edited: Matt Tobin