Valencia secured a point on Monday, momentarily lifting themselves out of the relegation zone. Against Rayo Vallecano, Santi Comesaña opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and although Valencia surged ahead in the first half, Justin Kluivert converted a second-half penalty in the eighty-second minute to earn a draw. The Valencians dominated possession and territory, yet could not seal the win in the final third.
Rayo Vallecano delivered a gritty performance at Mestalla, under Andoni Iraola’s guidance, pressing high to disrupt Valencia’s build-up. They entered the area with rapid transitions, testing the Valencia defense in a well-executed plan that aimed to exploit space behind the hosts’ back line.
From the opening minutes, the strategy paid off. Rayo pressed Valencia relentlessly, pushing through the flanks while the home side struggled to contain the visitors. Álvaro García advanced down Valencia’s right, delivering a dangerous ball that led to Comesaña finding the net in the ninth minute, stunning the crowd and shifting the early balance of the match.
The match momentum swung back as Valencia sought parity. Rubén Baraja’s side created chances but struggled to convert, with Gayà delivering a precise cross to the far post that nearly found Kluivert, whose attempt struck the post. Valencia’s build-up from the center faced disruption as Vallecano pressed high, and the hosts frequently looked to exploit Gayà’s left flank through Lino, who sent crosses that were misfired or cleared by the visitors.
Valencia continued to press forward and engage in a tactical duel with Vallecano, with both teams constraining the other’s dangerous areas. The visitors stood firm at the back, frustrating the home side as the first half progressed, and Valencia entered the break without a goal as Yunus replaced Nico at halftime to inject fresh impetus.
After the restart, Valencia pushed on the right wing in hopes of creating chances, but the execution remained lacking. The attack shifted to the front line as Castillejo and Hugo Duro entered the fray to boost the supply lines and keep pressure on the Vallecano defense, while attempts to unlock the defense without the breakthrough continued.
In a tense late stage, Vallecano’s defense held firm before Valencia’s sustained siege, with the visitors repelling repeated crosses and set pieces. In the 77th minute, a decisive intervention by Dimitrievski prevented a Valencia equalizer, and the home side intensified their pressure in the 80th minute until Balliu’s handball prompted a VAR review that awarded a penalty. Kluivert calmly dispatched the kick to level the score, and the match extended into stoppage time as both teams sought a winner.
The end-game saw Mamardashvili make a crucial save from a powerful shot from Salvi in the 98th minute as the drama continued. Final attempts from both sides underscored the balanced nature of the contest, with neither team able to snatch all three points.
Data sheet:
Valencia: Mamardashvili, Thierry, Diakhaby, Cenk, Gayà, Nico (Yunus, 46), Guillamón (Castillejo, 62), Almeida (Ilaix, 88), Kluivert, Cavani (Hugo Duro, 63) and Lino
Vallecano Vallecano: Dimitrievski, Balliu, Lejeune, Catena, Fran García, Isi (Salvi, 83), Santi, Óscar (RDT, 83), Álvaro (Unai López, 59), Camello (Mumin, 83) and Oscar Trejo (Chavarría, 65)
Goals: 0-1, 9: Santi Comesaña, 1-1, 82: Kluivert, penalty.
Referee: Figueroa Vázquez. Warnings to Valencia players Thierry and Kluivert; cautions to Óscar, Balliu, and Catena on the Vallecano side.
Event: The match, part of LaLiga 2022/23, was played before 39,769 spectators at the Mestalla stadium. The kickoff was observed with a ceremony marking an individual milestone in European football, reflecting the competitive spirit of the league.