Saturday January 14, 2012 Day 19 Finished Mestalla

Valencia CF 0 - 1 Real Sociedad

  • Griezmann 55’

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  1. Valencia slump to home defeat

    Valencia slump to home defeat

    Valencia passed up the chance to move to within a point of Barcelona when suffering a hugely disappointing 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Valencia CF
    • Real Sociedad
    • 90+3' FULL TIME. Griezmann's goal gives Sociedad an unexpected victory and the home fans don't like it one bit. A poor performance from Valencia.
    • 90+3' Griezmann is replaced after a fine display, with Carlos Martinez on in his place.
    • 90+1' We will have three added minutes.
    • 90' Pablo bursts into the box but Gonzalez produces a fine challenge to stop his run. Excellent defending.
    • 88' Just a few minutes for Sociedad to hold out now for a very decent victoryt at the Mestalla.
    • 86' Banega approaches the left-hand side of the box and sends an angled shot past the far post and wide. That was fairly close, which is about as good as Valencia have done in this second half.
    • 84' Space opens up for Jonas in the centre of the pitch but he fires his shot down the throat of Bravo.
    • 83' Jordi Alba races into the box to try and collect a loose ball but Claudio Bravo comes off his line to collect as the wide man looks alert.
    • 80' McDonald Mariga comes on to replace Aranburu in the Sociedad midfield and shore things up a touch.
    • 79' Valencia howl for a penalty when Jonas goes to ground but it was never a spot-kick, just a bit of mutual pushing and pulling with Cadamuro.
    • 77' Griezmann will be man of the match unless something spectacular happens. He looks a very fine player.
    • 75' Valencia really have been horribly disappointing tonight. Unai Emery will be furious with his side.
    • 73' That earlier knock for Feghouli has resulted in his withdrawal and he is replaced by Paco Alcacer.
    • 72' Griezmann, who has been the best player on the pitch tonight, fires another shot over the bar as Sociedad look for a second. They have been vastly improved in this second half.
    • 70' Sociedad bring on Carlos Vela, on loan from Arsenal of course, to replace Agirretxe.
    • 69' Feghouli falls heavily after colliding in the air with Mikel Gonzalez.
    • 68' Now Sociedad press forward again and Agirretxe pops up in a central position before lashing a shot wide of the post.
    • 67' Elustondo takes the free-kick and his effort is deflected behind for a goal-kick.
    • 66' Agirretxe wins a free-kick 30 yards from goal as he draws Rami into a clumsy challenge...
    • 65' A change for Valencia as Parejo is replaced by Jonas.
    • 63' Banega lines one up from 20 yards but sees his effort blocked. Valencia haven't risen to the challenge at all tonight.
    • 62' Agirretze pops up at the back post and surprises everyone when keeping a deep cross in play, but Valencia manage to scramble the ball clear.
    • 60' Valencia could have gone to within a point of Barcelona with a victory tonight but instead Sociedad for joint 12th place alongside Getafe.
    • 58' That was firmly against the run of play as Valencia have had the better of what has admittedly been a poor game at the Mestalla.
    • 56' GOAL! Valencia 0-1 Real Sociedad! Griezmann with the strike. His first effort is blocked and when the midfielder follows up he inadvertently handles before seeing his shot deflect off Rami and loop over Alves. Very fortunate.
    • 55' And Alba immediately goes into the book for a bit of a two-footed challenge.
    • 54' A change for Valencia as Jordi Alba comes on for Mathieu at left-back.
    • 53' Parejo delivers a corner from the right and Aduriz gets his head to the ball and turns it over the bar. A familiar scenario.
    • 52' Valencia are enjoying 60 per cent possession so far in this match and have restricted Sociedad to only two shots.
    • 51' Mathieu and Prieto clash and knock knees. Both players look to be in some pain.
    • 49' Rami lays the ball off to Feghouli and he drives a fearsome low effort just wide of the far post. That was a very good hit.
    • 47' Pablo finds a bit of space but sees his effort deflected over the bar.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
    • 45+1' HALF TIME. A rather dull encounter so far but Aduriz did hit the bar.
    • 45' Parejo finds a pocket of space 25 yards from goal and lifts his shot high over the bar. He got under the ball and that was never hitting the target.
    • 45' Excellent work from Pablo as he skips away from his man down the left wing but he can't find a Valencia shirt when crossing.
    • 43' Adil Rami produces a big, big header when under pressure from a Prieto cross from the right.
    • 42' Dealbert deals well with Prieto as the Sociedad star threatens to get a cross in from a wide position.
    • 41' Pablo, a clever player, tries to float an enticing cross into the box, only to see his effort cut out.
    • 40' Banega dallies in possession too close to his own goal and only just gets away with it when being clattered by a Sociedad player. Risky business from the Argentina international.
    • 38' Sociedad look for a second to have opened up the Valencia defence but Prieto sneaks into an offside position to waste a good chance for the away side.
    • 37' A shot! Sociedad have a shot! Griezmann lays the ball off to Imanol Agirretxe who blasts his effort high into the stands.
    • 36' Banega looks in some pain when coming off worst in a challenge, but he steps gingerly to his feet and does not require treatment.
    • 35' Got an opinion on the match, or anything else? Let me know on Twitter. Follow Tom Adams on Twitter
    • 34' Quite honestly this is one of the more dreadful games I have seen of late. Sociedad are offering nothing at all going forward.
    • 33' Gorka Urkola is penalised for a messy challenge on Pablo but he avoids a card.
    • 32' Mikel Aranburu gets a cross in from the left for Sociedad but Alves leaps to catch the ball, all too easily.
    • 30' Valencia have had 66 per cent of possession and five shots to Sociedad's none.
    • 29' This has been a rather dull contest so far and chances have been few and far between. What chances there have been have fallen to Valencia.
    • 27' If you missed it earlier, Real Madrid went eight points clear with a win over Real Mallorca. Match report
    • 25' Aduriz has the ball in the back of the net but Feghouli has already been caught offside when collecting a clever pass from Pablo.
    • 24' Antoine Griezmann displays his excellent technique with a rather brilliant volleyed cross but fails to find a Sociedad team-mate with the delivery.
    • 22' Bruno needs more treatment on that gash on his head.
    • 21' A loose pass from David Zurutuza ends what was a quite promising move for Sociedad as Angel Dealbert mops up.
    • 19' Not quite sure what Elustondo was up to there but his chipped through ball bounces harmlessly through to Alves in the Valencia goal.
    • 17' Valencia hit the woodwork! The pressure continues to build as Parejo's corner is met by Aduriz, who directs his header across goal and off the top of the bar!
    • 16' What a chance! Aduriz knocks down a pass from Banega and Pablo belts a firm effort at goal on the volley. Claudio Bravo is behind it and parries away though.
    • 15' Sociedad now find some space out wide but Xabi Prieto's cross is no problem whatsoever for Alves in the Valencia goal.
    • 14' Ouch. Bruno has taken a nasty bump on the head for Valencia and he will need to be patched up before continuing.
    • 13' Pablo again with a cross from the left but Feghouli can't get on the end of it as Cadamuro clears.
    • 12' Valencia have a clear strategy to get the ball wide and feed Aduriz and now Bruno pumps a cross into the box.
    • 10' Feghouli dangerous again as he whips in a cross from the right and Aduriz wins a corner when his shot is deflected behind. The striker gets on the end of Dani Parejo's set-piece but the ball bounces into the arms of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
    • 8' It has been a fairly scrappy contest so far but Valencia look the better side on the ball, as you would expect of course.
    • 7' Sofiane Feghouli with an expert crosses into the box but Aritz Aduriz can't get a decent connection. Jeremy Mathieu then delivers his own cross from the left, with Feghouli unsuccessful at the back post.
    • 5' Mehmet Topal runs out of space and time in front of his own goal and is forced to slip a quick pass back to goalkeeper Diego Alves. Valencia clear though.
    • 4' Sociedad have started pretty well and don't look awed by facing the team third in the division. Nothing really of note in the final third though.
    • 3' A relatively tame start here at the Mestalla. Valencia will be keen to dominate possession against the team sitting 16th in the table.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 20:58 Over in the Balearics Real Madrid have just dodged a banana skin by coming from behind to beat Real Mallorca. That puts Real on 46 points, and temporarily at least eight clear at the top. Mallorca 1-2 Real Madrid
    • 20:55 TEAMS: Valencia: Alves; Bruno, Rami, Dealbert, Mathieu; Topal, Éver; Feghouli, Parejo, Pablo; Aduriz. /// Real Sociedad: Bravo, Estrada, Demidov, Mikel González, Cadamuro, Elustondo, Aranburu, Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza, Griezmann, Agirretxe.
    • 20:50 Valencia can get within a point of Barcelona if they win tonight, though Barca play 10th-placed Real Betis on Sunday night. Liga table
    • 20:45 Welcome to our LIVE coverage of third-placed Valencia's clash with struggling Real Sociedad.

  • Summary

    • 72' Griezmann, who has been the best player on the pitch tonight, fires another shot over the bar as Sociedad look for a second. They have been vastly improved in this second half.
    • 56' GOAL! Valencia 0-1 Real Sociedad! Griezmann with the strike. His first effort is blocked and when the midfielder follows up he inadvertently handles before seeing his shot deflect off Rami and loop over Alves. Very fortunate.
    • 49' Rami lays the ball off to Feghouli and he drives a fearsome low effort just wide of the far post. That was a very good hit.
    • 37' A shot! Sociedad have a shot! Griezmann lays the ball off to Imanol Agirretxe who blasts his effort high into the stands.
    • 17' Valencia hit the woodwork! The pressure continues to build as Parejo's corner is met by Aduriz, who directs his header across goal and off the top of the bar!
    • 16' What a chance! Aduriz knocks down a pass from Banega and Pablo belts a firm effort at goal on the volley. Claudio Bravo is behind it and parries away though.
    • 10' Feghouli dangerous again as he whips in a cross from the right and Aduriz wins a corner when his shot is deflected behind. The striker gets on the end of Dani Parejo's set-piece but the ball bounces into the arms of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
    • 20:55 TEAMS: Valencia: Alves; Bruno, Rami, Dealbert, Mathieu; Topal, Éver; Feghouli, Parejo, Pablo; Aduriz. /// Real Sociedad: Bravo, Estrada, Demidov, Mikel González, Cadamuro, Elustondo, Aranburu, Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza, Griezmann, Agirretxe.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Valencia CF

    Manager: Unai Emery

  • Real Sociedad

    Manager: Philippe Montanier

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.2 -
      Defenders
      4.3 -
      5.6 -
      3.2 -
      Substitution Out53′ 4.7 -
      Midfielders
      4.7 -
      4.5 -
      Substitution Out71′ 7.5 -
      Substitution Out65′ 5 -
      5.5 -
      Strikers
      5.2 -
      Subs
      Substitution In53′ Yellow Card 5.7 -
      Substitution In65′ 5.3 -
      Substitution In71′ 4.6 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.2 -
      Defenders
      5.4 -
      4.1 -
      5 -
      8.4 -
      Midfielders
      4.8 -
      Substitution Out80′ 6 -
      5.1 -
      4.4 -
      Goal Substitution Out90′ 7.3 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out69′ 5.6 -
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ 2 -
      Substitution In80′ - -
      Substitution In69′ 4.3 -

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