Valencia will head into the second leg of their Copa del Rey fifth-round tie against Espanyol with a one-goal advantage, courtesy of a 2-1 victory at Mestalla this evening.
Jose Gaya opened the scoring for Los Che with 11 minutes played, although the visitors grew more and more into the game and bagged a deserved equaliser through Christian Stuani on the hour.
Just as the game looked to be heading for a draw, Alvaro Negredo converted from the spot after Valencia were awarded a penalty with four minutes of normal time remaining, winning the game for his side ahead of next week's return leg.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Copa del Rey round-of-16 first-leg meeting between Valencia and Espanyol at the Mestalla Stadium.
Los Che come into this game on the back of a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions which has seen them remain in contention for a top-four finish in La Liga. Tonight is all about domestic cup duty, though, and standing between themselves and a place in the last four is an Espanyol outfit who themselves are dreaming of cup glory.
Kickoff is just a few short minutes away, so let's quickly take a look at how these two sides line up this evening...
TEAM NEWS!
VALENCIA STARTING XI: Yoel, Otamendi, Cancelo, Orban, Gaya, Parejo, Fuego, De Paul, Gil, Negredo
ESPANYOL STARTING XI: Pau Lopez, Javi Lopez, Alvaro H. Moreno, Duarte, Canas, Abraham, V. Alvarez, Lucas, Sergio Garcia, Stuani
Kickoff is now just a few moments away:
Todo a punto en Mestalla para que arranque el partido. Vuelve la ilusión de la Copa del Rey. Amunt! #VCFespanyol pic.twitter.com/MwFqfCpMc0
— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) January 7, 2015
KICKOFF! A minute's silence was impeccably observed in memory of Don Antonio and Don Alfredo Fuertes Ruiz, with the game now underway at the Mestalla.
Sabata is caught in no man's land as he races out to attempt a clearance, but in the end he isn't punished. Both sides just weighing each other up in these opening stages.
Sergio Garcia managed to get a shot away, although the ball was blocked before it could reach Yoel between the sticks. Incidentally, Alvaro Negredo is starting up top for the hosts this evening, being given another chance to impress his manager.
We have already seen Villarreal edge past Real Sociedad this evening in a game in which the Yellow Submarine deservedly came out on top in, while Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are currently halfway through a goalless derby clash. Updates from those games, as well as Almeria vs. Getafe, will be provided throughout the evening.
GOAL! VALENCIA 1-0 ESPANYOL (GAYA)
Ten minutes in and the home side have an early lead! I was just about to say how this game has been all about the midfield battle thus far, but after breaking down the right Valencia managed to create an opening which Jose Gaya duly converted. Having picked up the ball on the edge of the box, the Spaniard took a touch and fired into the corner from 15 yards out to put Los Che ahead.
CLOSE! Almost a second for Valencia, as Parejo fires narrowly over the crossbar from a free kick on the edge of the area. Espanyol having to ride a fair bit of pressure here.
Looking at some of the stats provided, 0% of Espanyol's attacks have come down the right-hand side in the opening 15 minutes. To put that into some perspective, 60% of their play is coming down the opposite flank, which goes to show where their danger lies.
Duarte looked to take advantage of an opening at the back a few moments ago but was unable to do so, as the visitors look for a response following that early setback. They saw their three-game winning run come to an end last time out, so will be keen to bounce back here tonight.
Yoel get caught in a bit of bother after dropping to ball in full flight, although luckily for him and his team he was straight on the second ball.
UPDATE: Atletico Madrid lead city rivals Real Madrid courtesy of Raul Garcia's pen just short of the hour mark. Almeria and Getafe remains locked at 0-0, meanwhile.
Espanyol are growing more and more into the game, piling some real pressure on their opponents from set piece situations. Up the other end Rodrigo de Paul looked to create an opening of his own, but it was cut out in the end.
The Parakeets are knocking the ball around well, seemingly unfazed by the early goal conceded, searching for a route back into the game. It has been pretty much one-way traffic since the opening goal.
Javio Lopez leaves his leg in when going for a 50/50 ball with goalscorer Gaya, and is perhaps lucky to have avoided a yellow card in that situation.
SAVE! Yoel is forced into action, producing a fine save down low to deny Victor Alvarez who found himself in plenty of space inside the area. Espanyol have looked incredibly dangerous since going behind, and they really should be level now.
It's certainly an open game in terms of the space in midfield, with both sides constantly looking to break. As mentioned a few moments ago, though, it is the White and Blues who are looking more dangerous.
A rare attack from Valencia culminates in Gil being dispossessed when in a one-on-one position, although the linesman's flag was already up for offside.
Espanyol lead the shot count 6-3 with six minutes of the first half remaining. Valencia took their chance well inside the opening 10 minutes to edge ahead, yet the Parakeets deserve to be level following their efforts from that point on.
Javi Fuego almost steals in behind following some sloppy play, although Espanyol managed to get away with the scare in the end.
Vazquez swings a free kick into the box which Yoels easily intercepts. The game has quietened down over the last 10 minutes, which will suit Valencia just fine.
The hosts easily deal with another set piece which is crossed into the box, with the loose ball being blasted well over the target from the edge of the box. That could be the last action of the half.
HALF TIME: VALENCIA 1-0 ESPANYOL
Indeed it is. The first half draws to a close with Valencia holding onto a narrow 1-0 lead. Jose Gaya found the net on the 11-minute mark when he fired the ball home from inside the area, although since then Espanyol have really grown into the game.
In fact they probably deserve to be level at the break, and if not for the fine save of Yoel they would be. Alvarez was the man denied from close range, meaning that the scoreline remains at 1-0 at the interval.
DESCANSO http://t.co/LHN8xXCxH1 #VCFespanyol pic.twitter.com/s2AjwAlS3e
— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) January 7, 2015
UPDATE: Atletico Madrid have taken a huge stride towards the final eight with a 2-0 first-leg victory over rivals Real Madrid this evening. We've already seen Villarreal edge out David Moyes's Real Sociedad 1-0, meanwhile, and in the night's other tie Almeria trail Getage by a goal-to-nil.
The second half is just a couple of minute away at the Mestalla now. It would be surprising to see either manager make a change at the break, as I'm sure both with be happy enough with what they have seen. The next 45 minutes of this tie really are going to be huge in the grand scheme of things, so can Espanyol level things up? Or will Los Che add a second? Let's find out...
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Valencia, sporting their white shirts and block shorts this evening, get proceedings back underway.
Espanyol look to break in the early stages of the second half, although Garcia's pass into an advance position was well overhit in the end and the attack dies down.
A rather bitty start to the second period. Espanyol really need to take the contest by the scruff of the neck because Valencia are there for the taking this evening.
YELLOW CARD! Abraham is shown the game's first yellow card following a rather cynical challenge in the middle of the park.
There's been very little to write home about following the restart. Espanyol are pushing for an equaliser but not getting very far at the moment. Fifty-eight per cent of the ball has been in midfield over the last 10 minutes, which says a lot.
SAVE! Negredo fires away a decent enough shot from the edge of the area, which forces Sabata to get down low to collect the ball. Not the most difficult of saves, but at least we have seen a shot this half!
I mentioned in the opening quarter of the game home 0% of the visiting side's attacks had taken place down the right wing, well that has completely flipped. A massive 90% of the action has been down that flank since!
GOAL! VALENCIA 1-1 ESPANYOL (STUANI)
We're level at the Mestalla thanks to Christian Stuani's strike on the hour. It was a well-taken goal from the striker, too, who kept his composure inside the box to tuck the ball beyond Yoel to give his side a deserved equaliser on the balance of things.
You wonder where the game goes from here. You would expect Espanyol to perhaps sit back, but that would just invite more and more pressure on themselves. Being brave may be the best option here for the visitors.
VALENCIA SUBSTITUTIONS: Alcacer and Barragan are introduced in place of Gil and Joao Cancelo as Santo looks to change things up a little.
CLOSE! Espanyol come within a few inches of completing the turnaround. A cross by Sergio Garcia from the left was spilt by Yoel, allowing Vazquez to latch onto the ball at the pack post, although he couldn't quite turn it in from a tight angle with the ball hitting the side-netting.
SAVE! This game has really come to life since that Espanyol goal, with Valencia now pressing for an all important second. Negredo got a powerful shot away at goal from inside the area, but Sabata was equal to the effort to push it away from danger.
VALENCIA SUBSTITUTION: Andre Gomes replaces Parejo as Los Che make their final change of the evening.
SAVE! Vezo fires away a fine acrobatic volley which was creeping into the bottom corner if not for Sabata, who pushed the ball behind for a corner. This game is now finely balanced and it really could go either way.
ESPANYOL SUBSTITUTION: Sergio Garcia makes his first change of the night, replacing Victor Alvarez with Felipe Mattioni.
The equalising goal from Stuani:
Espanyol level things up in Valencia https://t.co/eHLIGja3dq
— 138.com (@138dotcom) January 7, 2015
Andre Gomes leads a strong counter-attack for the hosts, which ultimately comes to nothing in the end. Likewise, Espanyol push up the other end but some good defending breaks up the play before they can work away a shot. This is a finely-poised contest which is still in the balance with less than 10 minutes of the first leg still to play.
SHOT! Alcacer tries his luck from range, yet his effort was always rising. A poor attempt in the end when better options were available.
PENALTY TO VALENCIA!
The referee has pointed to the spot after Sergio Garcia appeared to be caught by the hand of Sabata. The Espanyol players are furious, but there's not a lot they can say to revert the decision now.
GOAL! VALENCIA 2-1 ESPANYOL (NEGREDO, PEN)
And just like that this tie has changed yet again. A draw probably would have been a fair outcome on the balance of things, but credit to Valencia for digging deep and finding what looks to be a late winner. The penalty decision was a little harsh, yet Negredo didn't let the protests effect him, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-1.
So Espanyol have a couple of minutes to rescue a draw, then, following that crushing blow a few minutes ago. All is not lost, and a one-goal deficit can easily be overturned, but they will be disappointed not to have held on.
The Parakeets are unable to create any openings at the moment, and with just a couple of minutes left to play it looks to be all over for them as far as the first leg is concerned.
A decent chance for Garcia to drag his team level at the death goes begging, as he fails to beat the wall with his free kick from 25 yards out.
FULL TIME: VALENCIA 2-1 ESPANYOL
Valencia hold out to keep their one-goal advantage intact ahead of next week's reverse tie. It was a decent game on the whole, and one that on the balance of things probably should have finished level. But Los Che dug deep to take a vital win away from tonight's match which could make all the difference in who progresses into the next round.
Well that's all from me for this evening, but be sure to stick around as we bring you a full match report from the Mestalla Stadium, as well as reaction from all of the night's Copa del Rey action. Thanks for joining!
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Daniel Lewis
