Europa League
Kuban Krasnodar
Oct 3, 2013 5.00pm
0
2
HT : 0 0
FT
Valencia
  • Arsen Khubulov 20' yellowcard
  • Alexey Kozlov 40' yellowcard
  • Lorenzo Melgarejo 86' yellowcard
  • yellowcard Daniel Parejo 43'
  • yellowcard Antonio Barragan 47'
  • goal Paco Alcacer 73'
  • goal Sofiane Feghouli 81'

Live Commentary: Kuban Krasnodar 0-2 Valencia - as it happened

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Kuban Krasnodar 0-2 Valencia - as it happened
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Valencia picked up their first European points of the season, beating Kuban Krasnodar 2-0 this evening.

The Spaniards bounced back from their 3-0 defeat to Swansea City two weeks ago.

They made several changes for tonight's game, resting a number of key players, but still had too much for their struggling Russian opponents.

See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.

6.53pmAs I said at the beginning, I thought the Spaniard's extra quality would tell, and so it proved. Thanks for joining me and make sure you stick around on Sports Mole for coverage of all tonight's Europa League games.
6.52pmThe home side were resolute and offered a threat on the break but, in the end, lacked the real quality to hurt Valencia.
6.51pm2-0 suggests that the game was rather comfortable for Valencia and while they were probably the better side, they were gifted the lead that was the catalyst for their win.
90+3 minFULL-TIME: Kuban Krasnodar 0-2 Valencia
90+1 minSAVE! That doesn't stop them forcing a good save from Benelov though. Alcacer picks up the short corner, darts inside and fires at goal but the goalkeeper is equal to it.
90 minValencia win a corner on the break but are sending very few men forward as we move into injury time.
89 minThe hosts are keeping Valencia boxed in during these last few minutes but are yet to really test Guaita.
87 minYELLOW CARD! Malgerejo receives a booking after bringing down Feghouli with Valencia on the counter attack.
86 minBalde fights for the ball on the edge of the box. It eventually falls to Tsoraev but he can't get enough power in his shot and Guaita gathers easily, adding a fall to the floor to waste an extra few seconds.
84 minKrasnodar are still fighting. Popov turns well in midfielder and fires and effort just wide as he breaks towards the edge of the box.
82 minSUBSTITUTION: Just before that free kick, Cisse was replaced by Ibrahima Balde for the home side.
81 minThat should wrap it up for the visitors. Feghouli steps up to take the free kick and bends it around the wall and into the bottom corner. The goalkeeper might have done better bit he saw the ball very late.
81 minGOAL! Kuban Krasnodar 0-2 Valencia (Feghouli)
80 minFeghouli nicks the ball from Kozlov and plays it inside to Cartabia who is fouled on the edge of the box as he flicks the ball over the defender.
79 minGuardado eventually picks up the ball after the corner is cleared but fires an ambitious effort miles off target from 35 yards.
78 minIt will be dangerous for Valencia to just sit back now. They can expect an onslaught, and another goal on the break would be perfect for the visitors. They almost get it as Feghouli runs free on the right but sees his effort deflected wide.
76 minSUBSTITUTION: Valencia are looking to sure things up now. Oriol Romeu comes on for Parejo.
73 minDear, oh dear. Benelov, who has been competent on most occasions tonight, has just given the visitors a gift. He comes racing out of his area for a long ball, which he misses, allowing Alcacer to run free and pass the ball into an empty net!
73 minGOAL! Kuban Krasnodar 0-1 Valencia (Alcacer)
71 minThe hosts are the ones doing all the pressing now. They force a corner on the left which eventually finds its way to Tsoraev, but he fires well over.
68 minSUBSTITUTION: The hosts make another change as Gheorghe Bucur replaces Bueno.
66 minSUBSTITUTION: That is Piatti's last contribution as he is replaced by Paco Alcacer.
65 minCHANCE! Piatti breaks forward and into the box before feeding the ball right to Cartabia, who miss-kicks horribly and the goalkeeper gathers the ball.
62 minCHANCE! Costa plays the ball down the line for Feghouli who whips the ball across the face of goal, but no Valencia players are there to finish. Krasnodar concede the corner, which they clear.
60 minSUBSTITUTION: Canales comes off for Valencia to be replaced by Federico Cartabia, while the hosts bring on David Tsoraev for Khubulov.
58 minThe game has settled down again now and reverted to a similar patter to the one in the first half. Both sides are readying changes.
55 minCisse somehow collects a clearance while being challenged by two defenders but his touch is heavy and runs through for the goalkeeper.
53 minSAVE! End-to-end now as Valencia break with Piatti on the right. He cuts inside and beats his man but the goalkeeper palms away the shot and the hosts clear the ball.
52 minCHANCE! Krasnodar immediately break on the left with Khubulov, who beats his man and chips the ball back from the byline. It misses Cisse by Beuno comes in off the left and somehow misses the target with his header!
52 minSAVE! Parejo takes the free kick but it is an easy one for Benelov, who catches easily.
51 minParejo finds space in the middle, before finding Feghouli. with a pinpoint pass. The midfielder is brought down on the edge of the box as he turns, giving Valencia a free kick in a good position...
49 minAnother big penalty claim for the home side! Beuno is released through the middle by Popov and goes down under a challenge from Barragan. The referee again waves play on despite roars from the crowd.
47 minYELLOW CARD! Barragan brings down Beuno on a counter attack.
46 minValencia kick off the second period.
6.01 pmThe players are making their way back out onto the pitch. No changes for either side at the break.
5.59pmIt looks like one goal could win it this evening, and if I had to put money on it, I would stick with my original prediction of a Valencia win.
5.57pmKrasnodar's Popov is their top scorer in the competition so far with three goals in qualifying, but the playmaker has failed to really influence the game today.
5.55pmThe final third has been the problem for the visitors. They've had some joy on the wings but are reluctant to cross the ball with a lack of height in the middle.
5.51pmAfter I gave him the big build up, Canales has failed to get into this game at all. It is the player's fault rather than anything the team as a whole is doing and I wouldn't be too surprised to see him withdrawn if it is still 0-0 after 15 minutes.
5.49pmValencia have played the better football and have dominated possession as you might expect but it is Cisse who has had the two best chances. The striker really should have scored his second one in particular, but the hosts will be pleased with their first-half display.
5.47pmI don't think either side will be disappointed with the score at half time as they go in goalless at the break.
45 minHALF-TIME: Kuban Krasnodar 0-0 Valencia
44 minCHANCE! Another great chance for Cisse, possibly even better than the first. Canales gives the ball straight to Bueno on the right, and the Krasnodar man finds Cisse in the middle of the box, but he heads the ball down and past the post!
43 minYELLOW CARD! Parejo becomes the first Valencia player into the book for a high foot.
42 minPiatti picks the ball up on the edge of the box and feeds Canales but the former Real Madrid youngster can't sort out his feet in time and Krasnodar clear the ball.
40 minYELLOW CARD! Kozlov goes into the book for cynical foul on Bernat.
40 minValencia play their way out of defence well on the left and Guardado finds Bernat, who cuts back inside and is brought down by Kozlov.
38 minFeghouli is coming into the centre more now. He plays an excellent ball over the top for Barragan on the right, who lays the ball first time into the box but no one is there to finish it!
37 minIt's the hosts who want a penalty this time as Khubulov rides a challenge in the box and then hits thin air as he tries to shoot. The midfielder feels that he is impeded by Ruiz but the referee again waves away the claims!
36 minValencia are trying to increase the tempo now, they're getting the ball forward quicker but their attackers are too small to deal with anything in the air. It's easy for the home defence.
34 minGuardado is beaten to the ball by Khubulov, who gets to the byline and crosses the ball. Cisse is beaten in the air but Beuno keeps the move alive on the left, however his cross is claimed by Guaita.
32 minGuardado switches the ball to Barragan, whose cross is deflected for a throw-in, which Valencia waste.
31 minCanales skips away from a challenge in midfield and breaks forward before playing it wide to Feghouli. Valencia eventually switch the ball to the left and back again, but Parejo's long-range effort is blocked.
28 minKhubulov makes a silly tackle on Guardado which could have easily resulted in a second yellow card, but the referee just gives him a stern look instead.
26 minI must correct myself. The defender actually heads the ball against Costa for that Valencia chance a second ago. The Valencia man knew little about it.
26 minSAVE! Piatti's corner is met by Costa, whose powerful header is straight at Benelov. The Russian then blocks a long-range effort from Parejo.
23 minBarragan and Feghouli are forced back on the right before Parejo's clever through ball is cut out. The visitors are starting to set up camp in the Krasnodar half.
20 minYELLOW CARD! Khubulov is rightly booked for a strong tackle on Feugo in the middle of the pitch.
20 minThe Spaniards want a penalty as Guardado picks up a loose ball and goes down under a clumsy challenge in the box, but the referee is unmoved. Khubulov is then booked for a bad tackle on Feugo.
19 minThat was the best chance of the game so far. The hosts have look threatening on the break so far, while Valencia have controlled possession without threatening the goal too much. They need to get Piatti and Canales into the game more.
18 minCHANCE! Tlisov picks up the ball after Feghouli is dispossessed and finds the gap to release Cisse into the area, but the Frenchman fires wide of the target!
17 minCosta and Ruiz keep the ball unchallenged at the back for Valencia who try to spring forward on the left. Guardado loses out though and Krasnodar break.
14 minValencia are trying to keep possession in a bit more of a measured approach now. Parejo is seeing a lot more of the ball but the Spaniards are reluctant to force the issue in the opponent's half.
11 minParejo releases Piatti on the left. The Argentine just manages to get his cross in but Feghouli is beaten in the air. Valencia keep possession and come again on the left but are forced back to Parejo.
9 minCisse flies past Costa on the right and delivers a cross but Barragan is covering to get the ball away from Popov!
8 minBenelov flaps Parejo's corner away but only to the edge of the box, where Canales controls well but fires well over the bar.
7 minParejo is starting to see more of the ball for Valencia now and with Bernat coming in off the left, there is plenty of space for Guardado to get down the line and win another corner...
5 minValencia finally get out of their own half as Parejo sprays the ball wide to Guardado, who plays a one-two with Benat and wins the corner but Krasnodar get the ball away.
4 minThey get to the byline again, this time on the left after good work from Bueno who is eventually fouled by Barragan. Khubulov takes the free kick and whips it past everyone and out for a goal kick on the far side.
2 minA fast start from the home side as they force a throw-in on the right. Fidler gets to the byline and flashes the ball across the box but Valencia get it away for a corner, which Guaita claims easily.
1 minKrasnodar get us underway...
4.58pmThe pre-match routine is almost over and everyone is ready for kickoff...
4.57pmKrasnodar is probably not the most intimidating stadium in Russia, but the eccentric crowd and cold weather will not be something these Valencia players are too used to as they come out onto the pitch.
4.53pmPREDICTION: With less than 10 minutes to go until kickoff, I think it's time I got off the fence and made a prediction. As I mentioned, I believe Valencia will be too strong tonight. That's not to say it will be an easy game. Kuban Krasnodar 1-2 Valencia.
4.50pmBehind him, Daniel Parejo and Sofiane Feghouli will provide the creativity in Valencia's midfield. I think the Spaniard will probably have a little too much for their opponents today, but away from him in Europe, especially on a chilly night in Russia, anything can happen!
4.49pmCanales is one player I am particularly looking forward to seeing today. He arrived at Real Madrid the same season as Jose Mourinho and looked like a potential superstar but a broken leg and several false starts later, the 22-year-old is still waiting for his career to really take off.
4.47pmFor Valencia, there is no Paco Alcacer as many had expected. Instead the talented Sergio Canales partners Pablo Piatti in attack, suggesting that the visitors will play very much on the counter-attack.
4.46pmSo, the hosts stick with their familiar 4-4-1-1 formation, with Ivelin Popov playing just off former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse. They also have a former Valencia player within their ranks. Defender Angel Dealbert spent three years at the Mestalla between 2009 and 2012.
4.44pmVALENCIA XI: Guaita; Barragan, Costa, Ruiz, Guardado; Feghouli, Parejo, Fuego, Bernat; Canales, Piatti
4.43pmKUBAN KRASNODAR XI: Belenov; Kozlov, Xandao, Dealbert, Melgarejo; Khubulov, Fidler, Tlisov, Bueno; Popov; Cisse
4.40pmTEAM NEWS
4.40pmAnd without further ado, let's get those teams in...
4.39pmKrasnodar will be lifted by the news that several of Valencia's key players could be rested today. Brazilian striker Jonas, Helder Postiga and Ever Banega could all miss out for the Spaniards. Youngster Paco Alcacer is expected to be given a chance to prove what he can do up front.
4.37pmThe Russians, meanwhile, are languishing down in 11th in their league after a poor run of form has seen them slip dangerously close to the relegation zone. A win in front of their own fans this evening could provide the team with some much-needed confidence.
4.34pmSince their defeat to Swansea, Valencia have won three league games in a row, conceding just one, and I fancy them to continue their good form today.
4.32pmBoth these teams were comfortably beaten on matchday one of the Europa League but, certainly in Valencia's case, they have a lot more to offer than they showed that evening.
4.30pmThanks for joining me this afternoon, for what should be an entertaining game between two sides who are desperate to get their respective European campaigns going.
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