Valencia suffered a painful defeat at home against Villarreal, further highlighting the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs. Once considered the dominant force, Valencia is now struggling, while Villarreal continues to establish itself as a Champions League contender.
The match, played at a packed Mestalla, began with a touching tribute to the victims of the devastating floods that struck the region a year ago. However, the somber mood soon turned to disappointment for the home fans as Villarreal took control.
Gerard Moreno opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 44th minute after a controversial foul. Valencia coach Rubén Corberán expressed his frustration with the decision, arguing that Copete, the Valencia defender, was trying to avoid contact. "Seeing the replay, I see that Copete tries to avoid contact and does not seek it. It was an action that marked the match," Corberán lamented.
Comesaña added a second goal for Villarreal in the 56th minute, sealing the victory and leaving Valencia fans in despair. The defeat leaves Valencia dangerously close to the relegation zone, while Villarreal continues its push for a European spot.
Corberán acknowledged the fans' frustration, stating, "We understand the pain of the fans because they encourage us, they give us a spectacular welcome... We understand it, we share it and we take responsibility to change that." He emphasized the need to analyze the game and improve, despite the disappointing result.
Match Details:
- Valencia Starting XI: Julen Agirrezabala, César Tárrega, Thierry Correia, Copete, José Gayà, Arnaut Danjuma, Javi Guerra, Luis Rioja, Pepelu, Diego López, Lucas Beltrán
- Villarreal Starting XI: Luiz Júnior, Juan Foyth, Santiago Mouriño, Renato Veiga, Sergi Cardona, Nicolas Pépé, Santi Comesaña, Alberto Moleiro, Pape Gueye, Georges Mikautadze, Gerard Moreno
- Goals: Gerard Moreno (44' pen), Comesaña (56')
Corberán's Post-Match Reaction
The Valencia coach expressed his disappointment and emphasized the need for improvement. He acknowledged the fans' support and vowed to work hard to deliver better results. He also refuted claims about focusing on other teams' business saying: "I am focusing in giving my players the best performance, even more after a match like this one."