Valencia 0-0 Athletic Club as greater possession brings no goals

Valencia and Athletic Club shared a 0-0 draw at Estadio de Mestalla, leaving a match with no goal scorers and no change to the scoreline. The result was confirmed at full time in La Liga’s regular season round 9.

Valencia had the sharper chances

Athletic Club controlled 63% possession and completed 483 accurate passes compared with Valencia’s 267. However, Valencia produced 16 shots to Athletic Club’s 9, including 13 from inside the box, and held the higher expected-goals figure at 1.49 to 0.65. Athletic Club registered 6 corners, while Valencia had 2.

The visitors’ S. Dimitrievski made 1 save, while Athletic Club’s goalkeeper made 3. Those figures reflected a match in which Athletic had more of the ball, but Valencia generated the greater attacking threat without finding a finish.

Cards and changes shaped the second half

Daniel Raba Antolín was booked in the 19th minute, with Aymeric Laporte and Beñat Gerenabarrena also cautioned before half-time. Gerenabarrena was replaced by Mikel Jauregizar at 45 minutes. Valencia changed Daniel Raba Antolín and Hugo Duro for Luis Rioja and David Otorbi Ejededawe in the 54th minute, while Athletic Club made three changes at 63 minutes. José Luis García Vayá and César Tárrega Requeni completed Valencia’s three yellow cards; Athletic Club also had three, with no red cards.

Form and standout performer

The draw followed Valencia’s most recent pre-match draw and interrupted Athletic Club’s most recent pre-match loss. Going into the game, the supplied table listed Valencia 19th with 6 points from 9 games and Athletic Club ninth with 9 points from 7 games. Pepelu was the standout performer, earning a 7.2 rating after 90 minutes, with 2 key passes and 3 tackles.