Athletic’s order stops Valencia

Valencia and Athletic played out a laudable goal-less draw in the Mestalla. The first points to escape Nuno’s lot on their own turf and a point for the self-esteem of Valverde’s players after the blow of the Champions League. Piatti and Etxeita wasted the best chances of each team respectively and the defences did the rest. But even without goals the spectators had a good time, and that’s important too.

Valencia, rather than being quick, played with haste, and Athletic, rather than playing steadily did so without a guide. At least until Beñat came on. Hence half-time came with things as they had started. And that only because Iraizoz put out a firm foot to repel a Piatti shot, the best chance of either side. Valencia wanted it more and dominated accordingly. Nuno’s players were more lively, particularly when André Gomes or Feghouli was involved. Paco Alcácer only got himself noticed when he was pressing, but he did that as if his life depended on it. Rodrigo limited his efforts to offering to help from time to time. But in the box, their real habitat, little or nothing: Etxeita and Laporte never lost their places.

Athletic were lacking a guide. Aduriz, to be clear. They lost their way as soon as they went within 30 yards of Diego Alves, who for much of the game was another spectator. But something changed when Beñat came on for Guillermo, who trundled off after 38 minutes with a muscle strain. Txingurri (Valverde, his nickname in Basque, meaning ‘ant’) re-jigged his side: Viguera up front, Unai on the wing and Beñat as the 'hook'. Set up like that Athletic reduced Valencia’s superiority in the midfield and the game’s course changed. More open, and harder to predict.

Valencia found themselves experiencing something they hadn’t before this season. They didn’t have the game controlled through sheer forcefulness. Nuno understood it was a day to give the fans what they wanted and put all the wood on the fire. Negredo on, with Alcácer and Rodrigo. But just because you have more up front doesn’t mean you attack more or better. And exactly that happened: Valencia without Piatti and Feghouli got into the box less.

And when Carles Gil came on to feed the trio, Athletic had already let their hair down. Valverde negated the effect of Negredo bringing on Kike Sola, a message to his players. No sitting back. And they understood. The ball went from end to end, the players fought over the ball (with the pitch in a dreadful state), and Athletic found themselves more comfortable with the game like that, with both sides tired, and they were closer to taking it at the end. Their best chance fell to Etxeita in the six-yard box, which Diego Alves saved with his face. A fair draw in the end.

from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://ift.tt/1pFBTqx

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