Subs Share the Spoils of War

By: Javier | September 17th, 2009

Well our Europa League start may have been a rough one but we really cannot argue that the result isnt at all bad.

We got a point away from home against a tough team using our backups.

hey not too bad at all.

And in all honesty i think both teams could have taken all three from this one.

Emery made 10 changes from our main squad.. we can effectively say this was our B team. And yes the defence was shaky.

But this is our backup.. so considering that.. we took our backups to France and nearly left with their banners in our trunk.

IMO 1-1 was a fair result.

Here is what Uefa.com had to say about the match.

LOSC Lille Métropole and Valencia CF had substitutes to thank as they opened their UEFA Europa League Group B campaigns with an enthralling 1-1 draw in northern France.

Dividends
After both sides had gone close, Juan Mata finally broke the deadlock in the 78th minute having been on the pitch for barely 60 seconds. However, Lille coach Rudi Garcia saw his own tactical switches pay dividends, with Gervinho levelling with four minutes left to ensure his side remain unbeaten in Europe this season.

Thundered
Valencia coach Unai Emery opted to rest some of his first-choice XI giving Joaquín the chance to impress and he provided Nikola Žigić with an early opening which saw the Serb force a fine stop from former Valencia keeper Ludovic Butelle, before the Spanish international thundered a drive off the bar from an acute angle. Stuttering in Ligue 1, Lille have been far more solid in Europe, and could have gone in front when Eden Hazard and Ludovic Obraniak combined to release Robert Vittek behind a static Valencia rearguard, but the Slovakian international proved indecisive with just César Sánchez to beat.

Spectacular
The half-time break did little to halt Lille’s momentum with Obraniak forcing César into a full-length stop to palm aside a low drive, though Rudi Garcia’s men almost undid their own good work on 65 minutes. Emerson’s backward header totally wrong-footed Butelle and Adil Rami had to spectacularly hook the ball to safety with Žigić poised to head into the empty net.

Fortuitous
It was the flurry of substitutions in the closing stages that finally saw the stalemate broken. The alert Žigić found Joaquín, and his surging run and delicate pass allowed Mata to lift the ball into the net with his first touch. It was a cruel blow for Lille, who equalised in fortuitous circumstances.
Bruno’s miscued clearance ricocheted off Rio Mavuba and into the path of Gervinho, who coolly slotted the ball under César to earn a deserved share of the spoils.

All in all i say this went well for us.

Possitives.

Cesar is still brilliant between the posts.

Joaquin is still an excellent winger.. even if he is now a sub.

Zigic has class he was unfortunate to not get an early goal.

And Mata..

well he’s Mata… pure awesome.

More Possitives?

Easy.. we got a point away from home in the Europa league and our main players are all rested. Its not very often we are going to get that kind of opportunity so lets relish it.

Next match is this Sunday against Sporting De Gijon and we need to make it count. The Che need to maintain this momentum and keep maximizing our points to keep up with the big boys.

And this is a home game so is counts more than ever.. lets set the tone for the rest of the season.

Im possitive that we will win. But i want us to win big.

I mean look at the attack we bring.

Mata.. Silva .. Pablo all attacking with Villa la Maravilla.

My prediction. Valencia 2-0 Sporting

Amunt Valencia
Javier De Roque