Valencia CF - La Liga no longer a 2 horse race

[Jam_Van_Dam]

Valencia 2011-2012 January Transfers

Transfers

In
Michael Owen ST (Manchester United) £1.8M
S. El Shaarawy CF (AC Milan)


Out
Mathieu LB (L.O.S.C Lille) £4.6M
Bernat LM (Leicester City)
Ivan Rubio RB (Colchester United)
Armiche RM (Brentford)

Loan

Major Transfers
Player/From/To/£
Aguero/Manchester City/Real Madrid/£46M
Tevez/Manchester City/Barcelona/£22.5M
Marcelo/Real Madrid/Inter Milan/£17.5M
Jose Enrique/Liverpool/Inter Milan/£13M

[Jam_Van_Dam]

Match day 18

Villarreal CF 1 – 1 Valencia CF
Marcos Senna 28' (Vil)
G. Rossi (Pen) 38' (Vil)
Jonas 39' (Val)






Match Facts
12 Shots 5
5 Shots on target 2
48% Possession 52%
15 Tackles 8
2 Fouls 3
41% Shot Accuracy 40%
83% Pass Accuracy 81%


Man of the match: Diego Alves (Val) 6.90



7 Saves
---------------------------------

Valencia escaped tonights game in El Madrigal with a hard earned point after a 1-1 in a match could well have been called off due to rain. Manager Jamie Coull had the following to say: "I really don't understand their penalty, i know it hits Gallas on the hand buts it's accidental! Ball to hand not hand to ball...no way should that have been a penalty. However all in all i am happy with the draw as Rossi had about 4 really good chances to put the game beyond us and he didn't. I see no reason why we can't still qualify for Europe if you look at Barcelona's form at the beginning of the season 12 wins and 1 draw from the first 13 games there's no reason why we can't do that and move up the table. Last of all i was glad to see Rami return tonight with 20 minutes remaining, it's not easy being out for 4 months so i shall be easing him back in."

[Jam_Van_Dam]

Match day 19

Valencia CF 2 – 1 Real Sociedad
Vela 17'(Soc)
Piatti 19'(Val)
Pablo Hernandez 31' (Val)
Topai 90'(Val)





Match Facts
6 Shots 9
4 Shots on target 4
49% Possession 51%
15 Tackles 23
2 Fouls 3
66% Shot Accuracy 44%
82% Pass Accuracy 85%


Man of the match: Diego Alves (Val) 6.90



5 Saves
---------------------------------



A late 90 minute goal from subsitute Topai grabbed all 3 points for Valencia tonight at The Mestalla. Topai got his head on the end of a David Beckham corner and directed the ball into the top corner. The away side will feel hard done by as they were equally as good as Valencia during the whole match.

[Jam_Van_Dam]

Valencia sign Owen, Matheiu leaves



Valencia have signed former England internation Michael Owen on a 2 year deal worth £15,000. Valencia are short of strikers after Di Natale was ruled out for atleast 4 months and will hope Owen will be able to play a part during the next few months. Also Matheui has departed from the Spanish side and joined French club Lille after claiming to be unsettled and homesick.

[Jam_Van_Dam]

Match day 20

Valencia CF 2 – 0 CA Osasuna
Pablo Hernandez 31'(Val)
Cejudo 41' (Osa)
Piatti 57' (Bet)
Gallas 77' (Val)
Jonas 89'(Val)

Match Facts
10 Shots 5
6 Shots on target 2
57% Possession 43%
6 Tackles 15
2 Fouls 3
60% Shot Accuracy 40%
86% Pass Accuracy 86%

Man of the match: Gallas (Val) 7.20

1 goal
---------------------------------

Valencia dominated from start to finish and claimed all 3 points after a successful night at the Mestalla. Late goals from Gallas and Jonas gave them a comfortable win against an out of sorts Osasuna. The result now leaves Valencia on a good run of form with them scoring 10 out of a possible 12 points.

La Liga
Pos/Team/P/GD/PTS
1. Barcelona 20 +40 50
2. Real Madrid 20 +24 44
3. Sevilla 20 +28 43
4. Atletico Madrid 20 +26 42
----------------------------
5. Athletic Bilbao 20 +17 41
6. Villarreal 20 +18 40
----------------------------

13. Valencia 20 -12 20
-------------------------------
18. Real Sporting 20 -13 17
19. Rayo Vallecano 19 -21 17
20. Racing Club 20 -17 16

Champions League
Europa League
Relegation

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought Athletic Bilbao would start to drop points but sadly they have seemed to improve. I've took 10 points out of 12 for the last 4 games and i find myself a further point of European Qualification than i was before which is really disheartening!

Does anyone think i have a chance of a top 6 finish?

[Jam_Van_Dam]

Match day 21

Racing Club 1 – 1 Valencia CF
Soldado (Pen) 6'(Val)
Victor Ruiz 17' (Val)
Beckham 39'(Val)
Arana 86' (Rac)





Match Facts
3 Shots 6
1 Shots on target 3
48% Possession 54%
12 Tackles 8
2 Fouls 6
33% Shot Accuracy 50%
80% Pass Accuracy 86%


Man of the match: Tono (Rac) 6.80



5 Saves
-------------------------------



1 shot on target and 1 goal was enough for Racing Club to secure a draw against in form Valencia. A unimpressed Jamie Coull had this to say after the match: "What can i say? We play rubbish and we lose easily yet other teams play rubbish against us and pick up points."

[Jam_Van_Dam]

Valencia throw away a 3 goal lead

Match day 22

Atletico Madrid 3 – 3 Valencia CF
Soldado 8' (Val)
Soldado 45' (Val)
Rami 45' (Val)
Perea 62' (Atl)
Falcao (Pen) 85' (Atl)
Falcao 90' (Atl)





Match Facts
16 Shots 7
8 Shots on target 3
44% Possession 56%
23 Tackles 7
2 Fouls 2
50% Shot Accuracy 42%
84% Pass Accuracy 82%


Man of the match: Falcao (Atl) 7.20



2 Goals
-------------------------------
Atletico somehow battled back tonight against Valencia to secure a draw after being 3 goals down. Three first half goals from Valencia gave them a comfortable lead even though even though Madrid had been the busier side going forward. However a brace from star striker Falcao saw Atletico come back and snatch a point. Valencia captian Soldado had the following to say after the match: "That was ridiculous, Atletico Madrid are a great side but we should not be losing a 3 goal lead. That performance right there is why we will not be playing European football next year!"

[Jam_Van_Dam]

Match day 23

Valencia CF 2 – 1 Real Sporting
Banega 28'(Val)
Rami 44' (Val)
Ivan Hernandez OG 50'(Spo)
Owen 73' (Val)
Diego Alves 87' (Val)
Andre Castro 87' (Spo)

Match Facts
4 Shots 7
1 Shots on target 1
51% Possession 49%
11 Tackles 16
3 Fouls 1
25% Shot Accuracy 14%
82% Pass Accuracy 82%

Man of the match: Lora (Spo) 7.00

Dribbles Completed 10/10
Crosses Completed 1/1
Tackles Won 7/16
Passes Completed 17/20
---------------------------------
Michael Owen's first goal for Valencia was enough for his team to escape the Mestalla with a narrow 2-1 victory over struggling Real Sporting. Both teams were below their best having only 1 shot on target each however an own goal by Hernandez proved to be the difference

La Liga
Pos/Team/P/GD/PTS
1. Barcelona 23 +44 59
2. Real Madrid 23 +33 53
3. Sevilla 23 +31 52
4. Athletic Bilbao 23 +21 48
----------------------------
5. Atletico Madrid 23 +28 47
6. Villarreal 23 +18 43
----------------------------

10. Valencia 23 -11 25
-------------------------------
18. Granada 23 -21 20
19. Rayo Vallecano 23 -25 19
20. Racing Club 23 -19 18

Champions League
Europa League
Relegation