La Liga: Barcelona Lose To Valencia In Early Setback For Quique Setien | Football News

Barcelona had many of the ball however Valencia had the most efficient probabilities as Gomez ignored a penalty and in addition hit the crossbar within the first 1/2. Gabriel Paulista noticed a 3rd objective dominated out overdue on.

Whilst performances underneath previous coach Ernesto Valverde have been stodgy and acquainted failings went unresolved, he left an aspect in first position.

Setien promised a brand new taste however few will cheer a group that loses. Regardless of dominating ownership, Barcelona did little with it and as Valencia grew in self belief, they ceded regulate too.

“There are issues they have got no longer understood or perhaps we’ve got no longer have defined ourselves nicely,” Setien mentioned afterwards. “Within the first 1/2, rather frankly, we have been unhealthy.”

The query is whether or not Setien is making an attempt to impose an excessive amount of too quickly and in all probability whether or not this crew are even well-suited his concepts.

“The avid gamers have to evolve to the training group of workers to know,” mentioned Sergio Busquets. “There have been some just right issues however we need to enhance.”

Valencia climb to 5th and proceed to enhance underneath Albert Celades. This good fortune got here with out their captain Dani Parejo and, in large part, with out megastar striker Rodrigo Moreno, who has been connected with a January transfer to Barcelona.

The hosts infrequently touched the ball for the primary six mins, their fanatics whistling as they suggested a extra competitive manner.

However the plan was once to take a seat and soak up and it labored, with Barcelona not able to chop thru or create a unmarried transparent likelihood.

Valencia unhealthy

And when Valencia did intrude, they have been extra unhealthy too. With their first assault they gained a penalty as Jose Gaya slipped previous Gerard Pique and would without a doubt have scored from 8 yards sooner than being introduced down.

Pique was once booked and, with Parejo absent, Gomez stepped up, just for his pushed shot to be nicely stored by way of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, albeit with the assistance of 1/2 a backyard’s headstart off his line.

Barca have been using their success. Sergi Roberto’s header cannoned off Pique however fell simply shut sufficient for Ter Stegen, who parried a Gomez shot onto the crossbar and virtually spilled any other to Kevin Gameiro.

Referee Gil Manzano places his fingers in combination as though to apologise after failing to play benefit when Ferran Torres was once transparent however the frustration of Valencia’s fanatics became to ecstasy in a while after half-time.

Pique’s flicked header landed on the toes of Gomez, whose pushed effort took a merciless deflection off Alba and flew in.

Setien traded the endurance of Arthur Melo for the physicality of Arturo Vidal and Rodrigo got here directly to a rousing reception.

Barcelona exerted some drive and Lionel Messi led the best way, hauled to the bottom by way of Francis Coquelin after which denied by way of a super Gabriel take on. He fired previous the submit, headed large and noticed a curling free-kick stored.

But simply as a Barcelona equaliser started to really feel inevitable, Valencia struck once more. A snappy throw stuck Alba out of place and Torres did nicely to chop within and turn to Gomez. He took a slightly and curled into the nook.

Gabriel concept he had a 3rd after volleying in from a nook however VAR persuaded Manzano there have been a push. When Messi ballooned a overdue free-kick and threw his fingers up in melancholy, Valencia knew their win was once safe.

Sevilla celebrated the membership’s 130th anniversary by way of brushing apart Granada as Luuk de Jong met Jesus Navas’ go to position them in entrance whilst Nolito’s refined end made it two sooner than half-time.

“It was once a whole efficiency,” mentioned Sevilla trainer Julen Lopetegui.