Eibar vs Valencia. Spanish La Liga.
Estadio Municipal de IpuraAttendance5,187.
Sunday 13 December 2015 23:11, UK
A late David Junca own goal rescued a 1-1 draw for Valencia in Gary Neville's first La Liga game in charge of the Spanish side, at Eibar on Sunday.
Valencia were second-best to their hosts for much of the contest, and went a goal down on the stroke of half-time when Sergi Enrich poked home from inside the six-yard box.
Despite going a man down in the second half, Valencia equalised late on when Junca diverted the ball into his own net after a scramble on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Neville's side were knocked out of the Champions League against Lyon in midweek and, perhaps still feeling the effects of that tiring defeat, almost conceded inside 15 minutes.
Jaume Domenech produced a wonderful reaction save to keep the scores level, after Keko's cross found the boot of Enrich. The Eibar striker did everything he could to get a touch to the ball, but the keeper was equal to it, diverting it onto the post and clear.
There is a clear gulf in class between Eibar and Valencia - the latter spent close to 140 million euros in the summer transfer window, while their opposition shelled out just 400,000 euros.
Despite this, it was still Eibar who dominated the first half. Keko, who was impressive throughout the match, caused problems for Lucas Orban, and his dangerous cross nearly found an Eibar head.
Right on the stroke of half-time, the home side's pressure paid off. Enrich won a free-kick inside the Valencia half, which Saul Berjon stepped up to take. He knocked it wide to Capa, who took on the full-back to produce an inch-perfect cross, knocked home with ease by Enrich.
In the second half, despite needing to score to take anything from the game, still it was Eibar who dominated. Valencia's front three of Pablo Piatti - on as a half-time substitute for Rodrigo De Paul - Paco Alcacer, and Joao Cancelo struggled to create any clear-cut chances, despite their manager's screams from the touchline.
In the 64th minute, Valencia's job was made all-the-more difficult when left-back Orban received his marching orders for a perceived elbow.
After a corner was only half-cleared, Eibar captain Daniel Garcia jumped into a 50-50 header with Orban, reaching it a split-second before his Valencia opposition.
Replays showed the defender's eyes clearly fixated on the ball, but the referee deemed it a deliberate act of violence, and a penalty was given in the aftermath.
Berjon stepped up to take it, but it was brilliantly saved by Domenech. Perhaps there was still hope for Neville's men?
As the game reached the dying minutes, it looked as though defeat loomed large for Valencia. That was, until some fine work from substitute Alvaro Negredo carved a half-chance. He spun on the edge of the box to knock the ball to the feet of Andre Gomes, but before the ball got to him, it nicked off Junca.
The Eibar defender, desperately trying to clear his lines, inadvertently knocked the ball past his goalkeeper and could only watch as it trickled over the line to level the scores.
Valencia were on the front foot and looked for a winner of their own. They came very close to securing one with almost the final kick of the game.
Alcacer had the ball played through to him, and was clean through on Asier Riesgo's goal before being scythed down by Ivan Ramis. The defender saved his side from conceding, but was handed a straight red card.
Alcacer's resulting free-kick flew wide of the post, which proved to be the final kick of the game. It was a far from inspiring performance from Neville's men - but the former Manchester United man will be happy his managerial career in Spain is up and running.
