Champions League qualifying playoffs: Valencia off to a flying start as Monaco left helpless

Spanish side claim a strong 3-1 lead over last year’s quarter-finalists in first leg

VALENCIA: Goals from Rodrigo, Dani Parejo and Sofiane Feghouli handed Valencia a 3-1 advantage going into the second leg of their Champions League play-off against Monaco at the Mestalla on Wednesday.

The Spanish side got off to the perfect start when Rodrigo tapped home the opener after only four minutes, but Monaco rallied and levelled early in the second-half through Mario Pasalic.

However, last season’s quarter-finalists were undone by poor defending as Parejo’s deflected effort and a late strike from Feghouli put Valencia in the driving seat for a return to the group stages for the first time in three years.

“I value the victory. It was a good game and fundamental for us to win today,” said Valencia boss Nuno Espirito Santo. “It is a game that has been in our heads since the last league game in Almeria. I value the effort of the players and the support of the fans.”

However, Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim believed his side deserved more and blasted the performance of English referee Mark Clattenburg.

“Unfortunately last season in the quarter-finals there were many refereeing errors,” said Jardim. “To happen again in the play-offs is not positive for UEFA, for Monaco and for France.”

Monaco were without the influential Joao Moutinho and Layvin Kurzawa through injury and Kurzawa’s replacement Elderson endured a torrid time as Valencia got off to a flying start.

The Nigerian allowed Feghouli in behind to head a cross from the left back across goal and that left Rodrigo with the easiest of finishes to put the hosts in front.

The French side equalised in the 49th minute when a powerful run and cross by Anthony Martial was only partially cleared and Pasalic timed his run into the box perfectly to slot home the rebound.

Santo introduced Pablo Piatti for Rodrigo de Paul in a bid to turn the tide and the Argentine winger set up Valencia’s second with virtually his first touch.

Valencia were coping well with the relentless tempo of the game, given it was their first competitive match of the season, and Parejo could have doubled his tally at the end of a flowing counter-attack, but he fired Feghouli’s cross into the stands.

The Algerian international made no such mistake four minutes from time, though, when he slammed a loose ball home from just inside the area. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2015.

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