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Valencia logo
Europa League | Group Stage
Sep 19, 2013 at 6pm UK
 
Swansea logo

0-3


Rami (10')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Bony (14'), Michu (58'), de Guzman (62')

Live Commentary: Valencia 0-3 Swansea City - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's coverage of the Europa League clash between Valencia and Swansea City at the Mestalla.
2

Swansea City have produced a stunning display to record a 3-0 victory over Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium.

Defender Adil Rami was dismissed for the hosts after 10 minutes for a professional foul, and from that moment forward, it was one-way traffic.

Wilfried Bony netted Swansea's opener just before the 15-minute mark, before second-half strikes from Michu and Jonathan de Guzman helped the Welsh outfit coast to a comfortable triumph.

Read below to see how action unfolded in Spain.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Europa League match between Valencia and Swansea City.

If someone had said to you 10 years ago that these two sides would be meeting in European competition, then they would have been laughed at. But Swansea fans, it's actually happening. You are about to go head-to-head with two-time Champions League finalists Valencia.

Of course, Swansea have emerged as a solid domestic outfit over the past couple of seasons, but the novelty of seeing them involved in the Europa League is unlikely to wear off for the foreseeable future.

The team news is in from Spain, and the Swans have suffered a blow ahead of tonight's fixture...

SWANSEA CITY XI: Vorm; Rangel, Flores, Amat, Tiendalli; De Guzman, Canas, Pozuelo, Dyer, Michu; Bony

SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Tremmel, Monk, Davies, Shelvey, Routledge, Lamah, Vazquez.

As you can see from the starting lineup, there is no Ashley Williams. The club captain did travel with the squad but after failing to train yesterday due to an ankle injury, he has been left out by Michael Laudrup.

With Williams missing, Jordi Amat has been brought into the starting XI, while there is also a place for full-back Dwight Tiendalli. Angel Rangel will captain the Swans in place of Williams.

VALENCIA XI: Guaita; Barragan, Rami, Mathieu, Guardado; Fuego, Ever, Feghouli, Fede, Canales; Postiga

The La Liga side have made as many as seven changes from their defeat to Real Betis at the weekend. The eagle-eyed amongst you would have noticed that Swansea have more Spanish players in their lineup than Valencia!

Going back to Swansea, and Laudrup has made five changes to the side that drew with Liverpool on Monday evening. I suppose it was a difficult one for the Dane, because there are a few players missing that I'm sure that he would have liked to have played, but their hectic fixture schedule has meant that he has had to take the Premier League match with Crystal Palace into consideration as well.

After Swansea's rise from the old Division Three to European competition, Sports Mole assessed whether the Welsh side could spring a surprise in Spain. You can view the article by clicking here.

I forgot to bring you the Valencia substitutes earlier, but here they are. Jonas is the name that is sure to stand out. Expect to see him in the second half.

VALENCIA SUBSTITUTES: Alves, Jonas, Pabon, Bernat, Alcacer, Costa, Parejo.


Both Michael Laudrup and Angel Rangel have insisted that Valencia are the favourites to win this evening. Read what they have to say by clicking here.

We are just 20 minutes away from the action getting underway in the Mestalla! Who have you got winning this one?

PREDICTION! With Valencia making seven changes, this match becomes an ever tougher one to call. With Michu and Wilfried Bony in the team, I can't see Swansea not netting at least one, but it depends on how they cope without Ashley Williams. I'm going for a score draw, either 1-1 or 2-2.

Of course, there isn't just this match that is taking place this evening. Wigan Athletic are about to make their European bow in Belgium against Zulte Waregem in 15 minutes time, while you can also follow Tottenham Hotspur's match with Tromso later this evening. That game will start at 8.05pm.

The other two teams in this group - St Gallen and Kuban Krasnodar - will also kickoff at 6pm. I'm sure Swansea will be hoping for a draw in that one.

The sun is shining out in Valencia. Could the humidity play its part tonight? You'd have to say not when there are six Spaniards in Swansea's side!

It's far from a sell-out at the Mestalla, which is a tad disappointing. It might not even be half full.

It's Valencia who will get us underway.

Promising start from the Swans, who produce a neat period of play before Tiendalli fails to deliver a telling cross from the left.

It's Valencia's turn to have some time on the ball, but they are struggling to find any space to exploit the Swansea backline. Laudrup's side are quickly getting 10 men behind the ball when they lose possession.

Swansea earn the first corner of the match, but Dyer's corner is headed weakly at Guaita. Valencia broke quickly, with Tiendalli having to be alert to head clear.

Valencia are beginning to get on top, with Canales in the thick of the action. Firstly, he flashed a ball across the six-yard box, before testing Vorm with a 20-yard effort.

RED CARD! Valencia are down to 10 men! Rami has just hauled down Bony, who looked to be clear on goal.

That's shocking from the Frenchman. Bony was still a good 45 yards away from goal and their was another defender giving chase. If we didn't have a game before, we do now!

GOAL! Valencia 0-1 Swansea City (Bony)

Swansea are in business in Valencia! It was a fine break from the visitors. Pozuelo ran at the defence before laying the ball off to Michu. The Spaniard's close was slightly miss-hit, but it found Bony who smashed the ball home from 12 yards.

This has been an incredible start from Swansea. They've been handed a gift through the sending off of Rami, but boy, have they took advantage. There's not that many Swansea fans in the crowd but they are out-singing their hosts.

Swansea are passing the ball around the pitch at will, but after the ball found Nathan Dyer, he could only fire his 25-yard effort harmlessly wide of the post.

CHANCE! What a chance for Nathan Dyer! Valencia are all over the place, and an attempted back-pass went straight to Dyer, but after the winger had ran through on goal, he pulled the ball wide. Should be 2-0.

It's noticeable how Swansea are making Valencia chase the ball after being reduced to 10 men, and when the Spaniards have been drawn out, the Swans are releasing Dyer and Pozuelo. Bony gets another chance inside the penalty area, but his overhead kick goes wide.

Bony is creating so many problems for the central defenders. He's either managing to break clear, or drawing the foul. He's been excellent so far. We are approaching the half-hour mark and Valencia have hardly had a sniff.

That's a bit speculative from Michu, but I suppose it was worth a go, his volley clearing the bar by about 10 yards.

Valencia are having the odd spell of possession, but when they do, there's no space whatsoever. They are having to resort to the long ball to find Postiga, and on this occasion, the Portuguese man is offside.

Swansea have regained control now, with a cross from Angel Rangel causing mayhem in the Valencia box. The Spaniards cleared, but Swansea have the ball again.

CHANCE! Another chance for Swansea, and another chance for Bony. The Ivory Coast man muscled past Ricardo Costa before driving the ball marginally wide from 18 yards. He should have perhaps done better.

We are into the final five minutes at the Mestalla. You'd think that Swansea would be content with their lead ahead of the break, but they are still driving forward.

CHANCE! Valencia look exhausted. Swansea hold onto the ball for at least a minute before a cross comes into Michu, who heads wide.

HALF TIME: Valencia 0-1 Swansea City

Well, how about that, Swansea fans? Your team deservedly lead Valencia in the Mestalla, and they should arguably be a couple more goals to the good.

Michael Laudrup's side have been helped out by the dismissal of Rami, but they taken advantage. Wilfried Bony has produced his best 45 minutes in a Swansea shirt, and has earned his goal.

The stats sometimes don't tell the story, but they do here. Swansea have had 59% of the possession, while having 11 shots to Valencia's one.

Valencia have a couple of players on the bench that they can turn to in an attempt to change their fortunes. Jonas looks the most likely introduction, but if they revert to two men up front, that will only leave a few gaps at the back.

It's currently goalless in the other game in this group between St Gallen and Kuban Krasnodar.

We are underway in the second half.

Early chance for Pozuelo, but he couldn't get any power in his shot, and it was easily claimed by the goalkeeper.

Some of the Valencia fans have gone missing from behind the goal. Perhaps they've gone to find a performance for their side to produce?

CHANCE! Swansea should have this match wrapped up. Dyer does fantastic down the right to reach the byline, before crossing for Bony, who headed wide from about six yards.

Apparently, the reason for the fans' disappearance is that they are protesting against their team's performance! They are to return after 60 minutes. Meanwhile, on the pitch, Michu volleys over from six yards.

SUBSTITUTION! Michael Laudrup makes his first change of the night, bringing on Ben Davies in place of Angel Rangel.

GOAL! Valencia 0-2 Swansea City (Michu)

What a superb goal from Swansea. Some superb exchanges result in the ball finding Pozuelo, who plays in Michu to fire home past the goalkeeper from 10 yards. Swansea fans, this is really happening...

GOAL! Valencia 0-3 Swansea City (De Guzman)

WOW!!! Jonathan de Guzman has just scored an absolute screamer that has got the whole of the Mestalla on their feet. He stepped up to take a free-kick from around 35 yards and curled it into the top corner. Incredible goal in what is fast becoming the most incredible of results.

Lets just all sit back and take a breath. Swansea are 3-0 ahead in the Mestalla. Take that in, Swansea fans. The way this game is going, it could get even better.

After all of the excitement, Dyer has left the pitch to be replaced by Roland Lamah.

SHOT! Valencia finally test Vorm, but the Dutch goalkeeper had it under control, tipping the ball over from Guardado. There's 20 minutes to go in this match, and I'm sure the Swansea fans who have made the trip are going to savour every last second.

There's almost a bit of arrogance about Swansea's performance. They are spraying the ball about like they are at the Liberty Stadium, while they are that comfortable they are trying to pass the ball into the net. This result is going to send a few shockwaves around Europe.

SUBSTITUTION! Laudrup is going to make his final change of the night. Michu is leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from the away fans, with Jonjo Shelvey entering the fray.

Swansea win a free-kick around 25 yards out. De Guzman's eyes have lit up. It's Pozuelo who hits it though, and he can only find the wall.

We are into the final 10 minutes. Swansea want a fourth, but I'm sure everyone would have settled for 3-0 at the start of the night. In the other game in this group, St Gallen are winning 2-0.

Pabon has just tried to beat Vorm from about 40 yards. He's no Jonathan de Guzman. That's all I'm saying.

That would have been a bit special. Shelvey has spotted the goalkeeper off his line, and while his chip dipped just under the crossbar, it lacked power and was easily caught by Guaita.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

FULL TIME: Valencia 0-3 Swansea City

The referee blows the final whistle and Swansea have stormed to victory in Spain. If you predicted that outcome before the match, then I'd get playing the lottery this weekend.

The sending-off of Rami played a huge part in the result, but Swansea produced the perfect performance to ensure that the final result was never in doubt. Bony was brilliant, Michu was masterful and De Guzman's free-kick was simply delightful.

Swansea's win takes them to the top of Group A, and they are joined there by St Gallen, who scored twice after the break to beat Kuban Krasnodar.

That will be all from this match, but stick around and follow our coverage of Tottenham Hotspur's match against Tromso at White Hart Lane. Goodbye for now.

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Swansea City's Danish manager Michael Laudrup takes his seat in the dugout prior to the English Premier League football match between Swansea City and Southampton on April 20, 2013
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