Sevilla vs Valencia 24/09/2011

Leading up to today's encounter with Valencia, Marcelino Garcìa Toral, the Sevilla coach, correctly predicted that his side would take all three points. Although a missed penalty from the opponents almost had the Asturian eating his words, the home side was able to hold onto a 1-0 lead and take all the spoils. 

Valencia, losing their first game of the new season, might feel unlucky to have left without a point, especially when, with 20 minutes to go, Arriz Aduriz was harshly sent off for a stamp on Emir Spahic's foot (which, had it been administered to a dying ant would need to be followed up with another, more hearty effort to put the creature out of it's misery). Nonetheless, the Croat's melodramatic reaction fooled the ref, who, having already sent two Sevilla players off, probably felt pressured into evening things out.

But, the sending off aside, Valencia were really a shadow of the team that put itself ahead twice against Barcelona earlier in the week (that game finishing 2-2). This time round, and they displayed none of the sweeping, attack minded football, which caused Pep Guardiola's men such a headache on Wednesday. The first half was especially miserable from a Valencia perspective. From the kick off Sevilla were practically invited to test Guaita as much as possible. 
 
The 24 year old was on fine form, frustrating the Sevilla front line a number of times, but didn't stand a chance when, on 18 minutes, an innocuously headed ball from the home team's area found Mathieu (the Valencian left back) out of position, leaving a grateful Navas with acres of space on the right. The number 7 calmly found an on running Kanoute who, with outside of his right boot, took the ball past the Rami before rifling a shot into the roof of the net. 

The rest of the opening 45 minutes played out much like this, with a disjointed and uninspired Valencia having great difficulty stringing two passes together and having to absorb wave after wave of Sevilla pressure. The home side could easily have furthered their lead but wasteful passing and poor shooting ensured that the half time whistle was met with only a goal separating the sides.
 
The visitors started the second half in much brighter form, testing Varas from the get go, with Tino Costa and Jonas making the Sevilla number 13 work from early on. The travelling team was further boosted 10 minutes in by the daft, and deserved, sending off of the newly signed German international, Piotr Trochowski for a reckless challenge on Tino Costa from behind.


Against 10 men Valencia had chances to level the score. However, a determined Varas was equal to everything, producing a phenomenal save low to his left when a Jonas stuck his foot onto a dangerously deflected cross from 6 yards out.

Valencia’s odds of a comeback were enhanced considerably when the referee was forced to award them a penalty and send yet another Sevilla player for an early shower. This time it was a straight red for Escude after a desperate take down from behind on Aduriz, who was through on goal after Canales' excellent vision split the Sevilla defence apart. Banega took the ensuing spot kick but hit it too far right and agonisingly watched it bounce off the right hand post before being cleared away into safety.

Not long afterwards and Aduriz was caught up in the theatrical antics of Spahic and made leave the pitch by the ref.

Despite Aduriz's sending off Valencia still maintained a numerical advantage. Nonetheless, try as they might, they were unable to capitalise as Sevilla saw out the game defending deep and holding a tight back line. Even with Soldado coming on in the 70th minute, the home side was able to pasify and frustrate Valencia by not offering an openings or channels to play into.

However, Soldado could have snatched a point at the very end when a long, sweeping ball from Rami was knocked on by Canales and left to the number 7 to finish. Although the former Real Madrid and Getafe man didn't know much about the knock-on he was able to direct the ball towards the bottom right corner from close distance, only to see a cat-like Varas deny yet another, otherwise, sure-fire goal.

Valencia left the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium pointless. With the looming home tie against old boy, Juan Mata's Chelsea this Wednesday in the Champion's League, Emery's men will find little respite in their failure to convert chances today. It's clear that certain players are depended on more than others (highlighted today with both Soldado and Canales starting on the bench). A limited squad this season will mean that these players need to play games, at the risk of injury or burnout, which with such a congested fixture list is likely to happen eventually.