Osasuna and Valencia clashed at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra on Tuesday in the first leg of the fifth-round meeting in the Copa del Rey.
An uneventful opening half brought few chances for either side, although it was Valencia that looked the most likely to open the scoring.
Valencia did take the lead moments into the second period, however, when Daniel Parejo bent a fine free kick into the top corner.
The away side continued to create chances in the latter stages and they had their second in stoppage time when Roberto Soldado converted from close range.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! La Liga form is put aside as Osasuna and Valencia meet in the first leg of their fifth-round clash in the Copa del Rey. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are all still in the competition. But the right draw could see one of the so-called ‘lesser’ sides in Spain gain some silverware this season. That said, the winner of this match will almost certainly face Real Madrid.
Osasuna currently occupy 16th spot in La Liga with 13 points from their opening 15 matches, but their form has improved in recent weeks. Their only loss in their last six matches in all competitions came against their opponents this evening at the weekend. However, they were worthy of at least a point in that match.
They began their league campaign with three successive defeats and did not register their first three points of the season until late September. A run of five games without a win in all competitions then followed before they won 3-0 away at lowly Espanyol.
However, as mentioned their form has improved in recent weeks with back-to-back draws against Malaga and Real Sociedad and wins over Rayo Vallecano and Sporting Gijoin in the previous round of the Copa del Rey. They had been tipped as relegation candidates at the beginning of the season, but they have been playing some decent football in weeks gone by.
Teams:
Osasuna: Riesgo; Ruben, Echaide, Lolo, Bertran; Annan, Cejudo, Nano, Torres; Timor, Manuel
Valencia: Alves; Costa, Barragan, Rami, Cissokho; Albelda, Banega, Feghouli, Parejo; Jonas, Viera
Valencia, meanwhile, began their season with back-to-back draws against Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna before losing to Barcelona. They then picked up a win over Celta Vigo, but suffered defeat one week later against Real Mallorca. However, their form has improved in the second part of the season.
They have suffered just two defeats in their last 11 matches in all competitions and reached this stage of the Copa del Rey with success over Llagostera in the previous round. But it would be fair to state that they would have expected to be sitting in the European picture at this stage of the season, rather than in 10th spot in the table.
Valencia have suffered no such shame in Europe this season, however, and have secured their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League. It has been a successful season for Spanish sides in Europe thus far with Valencia joined by Malaga, Real Madrid and Barcelona in the final 16.
It is worth considering that matches involving Osasuna are comfortably the lowest scoring in the Spanish top flight. They are the only side in the league to average less than two goals in their games and each of their last five matches in all competitions has produced under 2.5 goals. Meanwhile, Valencia have managed just seven goals in their last nine competitive away games.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Passionate home crowd? Check. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be all-important in this match. But nothing will be decided this evening.
The home side get us underway on this mild evening in Spain. Just a reminder that the next leg of this affair will take place next week. No Roberto Soldado for the away side this evening, he is on the bench. Osasuna, meanwhile, have named their strongest possible side.
Decent start for the home side with Timor and Manuel enjoying possession of the ball in advanced areas. Half-chance comes to Nano as the midfielder strikes an effort from outside the box, but it moves wide of the target. Valencia are just struggling to keep hold of the ball in the opening stages.
Valencia have just settled in the past few moments with possession of the ball, but have thus far been able to find that elusive final ball. Meanwhile, the first booking of the match is picked up by Timor as the striker fouls Banega outside the penalty area. But the set piece from Parejo is poor and the danger is cleared.
Not a great deal happening at the moment in terms of attacking chances. Valencia have certainly taken control of the possession, but neither has been able to find the final ball inside the penalty area. A 0-0 draw would not be worst result for either side this evening, but you just get the feeling that there will be goals.
Again it's nice build-up from the away side as Banega combines with Jonas outside the Osasuna penalty area, but the Brazilian cannot return the favour and the danger is cleared by Ruben. Meanwhile, Roberto Torres is denied down the other end by a strong challenge from Rami.
Half-chance for Valencia as Jonas strikes an effort from outside the penalty area, but it just moves past the post and Riesgo restarts play with a goal kick. Osasuna subsequently enjoy a period of possession, but they have thus far been unable to find Manuel in attacking areas.
Again it's good play from Valencia as Jonas finds the run of Feghouli down the left, but the midfielder cannot find Jonas in the middle and the danger is cleared. You just get the sense that the away side have come to win this evening, rather than take something back to the Mestalla ahead of the next match.
Neither team has really been able to fashion a clear opportunity in the opening 15 minutes of football. The pressure remains with Valencia controlling the tempo, but the match has yet to light up. Another long-range pass comes from Nano, but Diego Alves is on hand to collect.
It's better from the home side as they force a corner on the right, but Lolo can only head Annan's set piece over the crossbar. The home supporters are attempting to raise their side at the moment, but goalscoring has certainly been their problem this season.
Slightly sloppy period to the match at the moment with both sides giving away a host of fouls in midfield. It has been better from Osasuna in the last couple of minutes, but we are still awaiting the first real chance of the match with 19 minutes on the clock. It is so delicately poised.
Osasuna continue to pass and probe in the Valencia half, but they have been unable to switch possession to either wing. They do force a half-chance as Torres fires into the penalty area, but Manuel cannot make contact and it drifts out for a throw.
Another half-chance falls to Valencia as Jonas whips a free kick into the penalty area, but Barragan fouls Lolo in the process of jumping and the referee awards a foul. It has been that type of match thus far with fouls interrupting the tempo on more than one occasion.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Lolo meets a cross from Nano, but he just cannot make proper contact and the ball goes behind for a goal kick. A long pass is launched towards Jonas, but once more a free kick is given and play is stopped.
Another half-chance comes to Osasuna as Timor attempts to find the run of Manuel in behind, but Rami just steps across to clear the danger with a fine challenge. The Frenchman had to make contact or that would have been a red card. Little under 20 minutes of the opening half remaining.
The last two minutes of the match has pretty much summed up the action thus far. Both sides have enjoyed periods of possession, but neither has been able to find that elusive pass in the final third. It does have the feeling of a Copa del Rey clash where neither is really prepared to commit too many players forward.
Another chance for Valencia to put a dangerous ball into the penalty area as Parejo is felled out wide. The midfielder fires the resulting free kick into the penalty area, but once more Lolo rises highest to clear the danger. Osasuna attempt to break, but Albelda stops Annan in his tracks.
The home supporters have just raised their voice in the past few moments in an attempt to inspire their team in the final third. But as I mentioned earlier this evening, games involving Osasuna produce the lowest goals in the whole of Spain. That is by no means a coincidence.
It is easy to see why Osasuna struggle to score goals, but likewise it is easy to see why they concede so few. Their defence is well marshalled with the likes of Lolo and Ruben. For Valencia, they have lacked the movement of focal point of their main striker Soldado thus far.
Osasuna continue to hassle and harry Valencia in midfield with Banega and Parejo struggling to find their teammates in a white shirt. It has been a key part of the home side's first-half performance. But it has been at the expense of clear chances. It would not surprise me if this match ended 0-0 ahead of the second leg next week.
CHANCE! The best opportunity of the first period falls to Jonas as the Valencia striker collects a pass from Parejo before striking at goal, but Riesgo manages to get down low to make the save. You would have put your house on the Brazilian taking that opportunity. Finally we have some attacking action.
Osasuna's frustrations continue as Timor finds Manuel in an advanced attacking position, but the latter's pass to Torres is poor and the danger is cleared. That period of play has pretty much summed up their half thus far. Although Torres has just started to influence proceedings with his pace down the right.
An extended period of Valencia pressure comes close to bringing the opening goal as Parejo and Jonas both pressure the Osasuna defence, but Bertran manages to clip the danger clear with some desperate defending. Little over two minutes of the opening half remaining and the score is still 0-0.
Half-chance for the home side in the latter stages of the half as Cejudo whips a cross into the penalty area, but Alves punches clear. Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute of football at the end of the half.
Osasuna 0-0 Valencia
So there we have it. The referee brings the half of action to an end with the score level at 0-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey fifth-round clash between Osasuna and Valencia. It has been a match of few chances thus far.
Osasuna have shaded the possession in the opening half of football, but Valencia have certainly looked the most likely to open the scoring. With another leg to come after this, it will be interesting to see how both sides will line up in the second period.
In truth, a 0-0 draw would not be the worst result for either of the two sides. Valencia picked up a 1-0 win over Osasuna here on Saturday and it has been a similar opening 45 minutes of football. But the striker who scored the effort, Roberto Soldado, has remained on the bench and they clearly miss his presence.
Meanwhile, Osasuna have struggled to score goals this season and that has clearly been shown in the opening half. Manu and Timor have thus far struggled for service with the final pass always that bit too long. But with their solid defence, they always have a chance of winning football matches.
Just a quick note on tomorrow. Join me from 6.30pm for Barcelona and Real Madrid's Copa del Rey fifth round matches. Believe me you will not want to miss it. Looking ahead to the second period of this match, it would not surprise me for one moment if the score finished 0-0.
Here we go then. Valencia get us underway in the second period. No changes for either side at the interval. Will we have a goal in the second 45 minutes or will the pair face off in the second leg with an aggregate score of 0-0? Stay with us for the entirety of the action.
GOAL! Osasuna 0-1 Valencia (Parejo)
Valencia take the lead and it's a goal of the highest order as Daniel Parejo bends a free kick into the top corner from just outside the penalty area. It had been a strong start to the second period from the away side and they have their breakthrough.
Where do Osasuna go from here? They have struggled to score goals all season and now they are behind. You get the feeling that they need to take at least a draw into the second leg next week. But at the moment the pressure is all one-way with Valencia enjoying possession of the ball in advanced areas.
It's smart work from Cejudo as the Osasuna midfielder evades two challenges in midfield before attempting to find the run of Manu, but the striker just cannot collect and Costa is on hand to clear the danger. It is so important that the home side keep it together for the next five or so minutes. Another goal would be catastrophic at this stage.
Half-chance for Valencia to extend their lead as Viera advances down the right and drives a low cross into the penalty area, but Jonas is just beaten to the ball by Ruben and the danger is cleared. Osasuna attempt to break with Annan, but once more the final pass is wide of the desired target.
Sighter for the home side this time as Timor picks up possession outside the penalty area before striking at goal, but it was never really troubling Alves and the Valencia stopper restarts the play with a goal kick. Could we be heading for an identical result from the league clash between the pair at the weekend?
The match has just settled in the past few moments with Valencia enjoying possession of the ball in their own half. No changes for either side at the moment, although it does appear that Osasuna could soon make their move with their subs being put through a rigorous warm up on the sidelines.
Half-chance for the home side as Nano whips a cross into the penalty area, but Timor cannot make proper contact and Alves once more collects the possession. Slightly scrappy period at the moment with neither side unable to keep the ball for an extended period.
First change of the match for the home side as Damia Abella replaces Echaide. A defender for a defender, not exactly the change that will get Osasuna back into the match, rather tighten up at the back. Can they really afford to enter the second leg a goal down?
End-to-end period of the match with both sides launching counter attacks, but neither side can create an opening. Meanwhile, Valencia also make their first chance of the match as Juan Bernat replaces Viera. Still no sign of Soldado for the away side.
Right, little over 25 minutes of action remaining and Valencia still lead by the singular goal. Chances have been at a premium in the second period, much like the opening 45 minutes, but the away side lead courtesy of a wonderful free kick from Parejo. That could well separate the sides come the end of the evening.
Osasuna are really struggling to keep hold of the ball at the moment with Valencia pressing high in midfield. Another sighter comes to the away side as Parejo manages to find the head of Jonas in the penalty area, but the Brazilian can only fire wide of the target.
Meanwhile, Osasuna make their second change of the match as Nino replaces Nano. Quite a pair. I wonder whether the player with the I can outsmart the player with the A and inspire his side in the remaining 20 minutes of football. However, Osasuna continue to struggle to keep possession.
Another half-chance for the home side as Torres evades two challenges before firing a low cross into the penalty area, but Timor cannot make contact and it drifts out for a goal kick. Valencia have disappeared as an attacking threat in the past five or so minutes, but the onus is certainly not on them in this match.
Still chances remain at a premium as we enter the final 15 minutes of action. Another sighter comes for the home side as Torres strikes from outside the box, but Alves pushes wide. There have been plenty of those opportunities this evening, but not what you would call a clear chance to add to the scoring.
Both sides make changes as Omwu is replaced by Roland Lamah for the home side. Meanwhile, Valencia introduce Soldado in place of Jonas. Not a bad sub to bring on! A reminder that these two sides met in the league on Saturday and it was Soldado that scored the only goal of the match in a 1-0 win. We are heading for an identical score at the moment.
Chances remain at a premium as we enter the final 10 minutes of the match. Valencia are controlling possession of the ball, but when they do lose it they are quickly regaining control. In truth, Osasuna do not look capable of scoring in a month of Sundays. But anything can happen in football as we well know.
A poor clearance from Riesgo almost puts the home team in trouble as he plays possession straight to Soldado outside the penalty area, but the striker cannot sort out his feet in time and the danger is cleared. It really is all Valencia in the final stages. But all it takes is one chance and Osasuna must keep believing.
Another half-chance comes the way of the away side as Parejo finds the run of Feghouli, but Riesgo is quick off his line and just manages to make the clearance. Meanwhile, a strike from Soldado is curled wide of the target moments later. This really should be more than 1-0.
The tempo of the match has been interrupted once more with a host of free kicks. Meanwhile, the away side make their final change of the match as Feghouli is replaced by Andres Guardado. Little over five minutes of football remaining and as it stands Valencia will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg at the Mestalla next week.
Decent period of attacking pressure from Osasuna with Torres and Cejudo both involved in and around the Valencia box, but as has been the case all evening the move breaks down at the final moment. Meanwhile, the home side are wary of the threat on the counter and have therefore kept their defence deep.
Little over a minute of normal time remaining and still Osasuna pass and probe but without an end product. Valencia are ever so comfortable at the moment and bar a complete change of style they will take a lead into the second led. But we still have stoppage time to play.
The home side have the ball in the back of the net as Torres heads home from close range, but the whistle is blown for a free kick and the play is restarted with Alves. Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes.
Still Valencia quell the threat from Osasuna as they push their defensive line high up the pitch, forcing the home side to play the pass that has eluded them all evening. Little under 30 seconds of football to play and bar a late show the same result that occurred on Saturday will be recorded this evening.
GOAL! Osasuna 0-2 Valencia (Soldado)
Oh my word! Soldado scores against Osasuna for the second time in three days as he collects a rebound from the goalkeeper to convert from close range. What an incredible time to score. Has that ended the home side's hopes?
Osasuna 0-2 Valencia
So there we have it. Soldado scores in stoppage time to hand Valencia a 2-0 lead ahead of the second leg next week. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and join us for more Copa del Rey football tomorrow. Until then!
