This afternoon, la Real fell 2-1 at Mestalla. Valencia CF took the lead in the first half and the realistas drew in the second. Unfortunately, the second goal scored by Valencia left la Real with no options to win in Mestalla.
The txuri-urdin team started well, but as the game went on, the hosts were clearly the superior side. In the 34th minute, Santi Mina nodded Valencia in front and Toño didn’t reach the ball. Meanwhile, la Real didn’t apply high pressure on the opposition with the exception of Oyarzábal’s header, which went wide.
In the second, the donostiarras started well too. Illarra stole the ball and Oyarzábal netted the equalizer in the 53rd minute. La Real controlled possession and settled into the game. But when things get out of hand, it is hard to turn them around and the scores weren’t level for too long. Santi Mina grabbed a brace after Toño’s mistake and Neto pulled off a double-save to deny Canales and Bautista. He still doesn’t believe it.
This defeat is very painful, more today, specially because la Real deserved more, mostly in the second. We must keep working, it’s the only solution. Aúpa Real!
Lineups:
Valencia CF: Neto, Montoya, Gabriel Paulista, Jeison Murillo, Gayá, Parejo (cap), Coquelin, Carlos Soler (Zaza, min.66), Gonzalo Guedes (Ferrán, min.73), Rodrigo (Maksimovic, min. 81) and S. Mina.
Real Sociedad: T. Ramírez, Odriozola, Aritz, Llorente R., De la Bella, Zubeldia, Illarra, Zurutuza (Bautista, min.79), Canales, Oyarzabal and Juanmi (Januzaj, min.68).
Goals: 1-0: S. Mina, min.34. 1-1: Oyarzabal, min.54. 2-1: S. Mina, min.68.
Referee: González Fuertes. Booked Rodrigo and S. Mina for the home side and visitors Juanmi, De la Bella and Canales.