Valencia block eight of their own shots' worth of hope, and Betis win it on 83
Sixteen shots for Valencia, eight of them blocked, three on target and none in. Pablo García scored the only goal with seven minutes to play.
This was matchday 1, played ten days late. Both clubs had already appeared in matchday 2 — Valencia in a goalless draw with Celta, Betis in a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad — and both arrived at the Mestalla to settle the fixture the calendar had skipped.
Betis won it the same way they won the first one: a single goal, late. Pablo García scored on 83 minutes.
Eight blocked shots
Valencia took 16 shots, ten of them from inside the box, and got three on target. Eight were blocked outright — a Betis side with 34 clearances spent the evening putting bodies in front of things.
The visitors had 58% of the ball and 474 accurate passes at 88%, but the chances were Valencia's: 1.15 expected goals to 0.70, and 26 touches in the opposition box to Betis' 18. Betis had three shots on target and scored with one of them.
Valencia have now played two league matches and have yet to score a goal.
Match facts
- 83' — Pablo García (Real Betis)
| Stat | Valencia | Real Betis |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 42% | 58% |
| Total shots | 16 | 15 |
| Shots on target | 3 | 3 |
| Shots blocked | 8 | 5 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.15 | 0.70 |
| Accurate passes | 289 (78%) | 474 (88%) |
| Corners | 8 | 2 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
| Fouls committed | 10 | 11 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 1 |
| Saves | 2 | 3 |
What's next
Two matches, two wins, two clean sheets and six points for Betis — one of only three sides in Spain with a perfect record, alongside Sevilla and Real Madrid. Valencia have one point from two and no goals to show for 24 shots.
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