Valencia 0-0 Athletic Club: shots for one, the ball for the other
AI-written review based on match data · How we make it
Key numbers
- xG 1.49 v 0.65: the better chances were Valencia's
- 16 shots, three on target for Valencia
- Valencia faced 9 shots, against a 15.9 average
Valencia's chances, Athletic's possession
This was a match of two contrasting kinds of control. Athletic Club held the ball for most of it, yet Valencia built the higher expected-goals total, 1.49 to 0.65. Neither side found a goal, and the scoreline stayed level for all 90 minutes.
Valencia gave away far less than usual
Valencia's defensive numbers stood out against their own season. They faced nine shots, well below their average of 15.9 across eight matches, and Athletic's xG was the lowest they have faced in those eight. With less of the ball than usual, they still restricted the visitors' chances, which points to a side defending well without possession.
Volume without a clean finish
Valencia took 16 shots but only three were on target, and their xG per shot was close to their usual level. That suggests an expected-goals lead built on volume rather than on clear-cut openings. Unai Simón made three saves to keep the visitors level, and the home side never found a way past him.
Athletic's possession carried little bite
Athletic Club had more of the ball than their season average, but only nine shots followed. Across six matches they have averaged 15.7, and their shots on target were also well below the usual figure. Possession brought neither goals nor a high volume of chances, and a point apiece was the outcome.
FN MOM
Highest FN Score · our own pick by a published formula, not the official Player of the Match
Pablo Maffeo 8.0Dominant
Four tackles, two interceptions and nine of 10 duels won.
Maffeo earned most of his credit through defending. His four tackles and two interceptions made six defensive actions, the most in the match, while two key passes and two successful dribbles showed he also contributed going forward. In a match that stayed level for 90 minutes, that work helped Valencia keep a clean sheet.
Game state
Valencia ahead 0 min · level 90 min · Athletic Club ahead 0 min
FN xPts — what each moment was worth
No goals, red cards or missed penalties, so no FN xPts moments in this match.
Valencia
Expected (last two seasons) 1.4Own moments 0.0Opponent moments 0.0Time effect −0.4→ League points won 1
Athletic Club
Expected (last two seasons) 1.3Own moments 0.0Opponent moments 0.0Time effect −0.3→ League points won 1
Expected points don't add up to a fixed total (a draw is 1 + 1), so an opponent's moment isn't simply the mirror of your loss. "Time effect" is the change as the clock runs down on a lead or a chase, and isn't credited to any player.
How FN Score and FN xPts work →
Match stats
ValenciaAthletic Club
1.49Expected goals (xG)0.65
Compared with usual
Valencia
8 matches this season, all competitions baseline
| This match | Avg | |
|---|
| Goals | 0 | 0.75 | |
| Conceded | 0 | 1.9 | |
| xG | 1.49 | 0.97 | |
| xG against | 0.65 | 1.6 | low |
| Shots | 16 | 10.5 | |
| On target | 3 | 2.6 | |
| Shots faced | 9 | 15.9 | |
| xG per shot | 0.09 | 0.1 | |
| Possession | 37% | 47.4% | |
| Passes | 333 | 433.6 | |
| Corners | 2 | 4.3 | |
| Fouls | 14 | 10.5 | |
Athletic Club
6 matches this season, all competitions baseline
| This match | Avg | |
|---|
| Goals | 0 | 1.2 | |
| Conceded | 0 | 1 | |
| xG | 0.65 | 1.6 | |
| xG against | 1.49 | 1.2 | |
| Shots | 9 | 15.7 | |
| On target | 2 | 4.7 | |
| Shots faced | 16 | 9.5 | |
| xG per shot | 0.07 | 0.1 | |
| Possession | 63% | 52.5% | |
| Passes | 568 | 481.7 | |
| Corners | 6 | 6.2 | |
| Fouls | 13 | 11.2 | |
Timeline
- 19'
Yellow
Dani Raba
- 38'
Yellow
Aymeric Laporte
- 42'
Yellow
Beñat Gerenabarrena
- 45'
Sub
Beñat Gerenabarrena → Mikel Jauregizar
- 54'
Sub
Dani Raba → Luis Rioja
- 54'
Sub
Hugo Duro → David Otorbi
- 57'
Yellow
Ruíz de Galarreta
- 63'
Sub
Johaneko Louis Jean → Jesús Areso
- 63'
Sub
Iñaki Williams → Gorka Guruzeta
- 63'
Sub
Ruíz de Galarreta → Alejandro Rego
- 68'
Sub
Gorka Guruzeta → Maroan Sannadi
- 74'
Sub
Justin De Haas → Harvey Elliott
- 85'
Sub
José Gayà → Jesús Vázquez
- 86'
Sub
Guido Rodríguez → Filip Ugrinić
- 87'
Yellow
Pepelu
- 90'
Yellow
César Tárrega
Category leaders
- Key passesJosé Gayà3
- Duels wonPablo Maffeo9/10
- DribblesPablo Maffeo2/2
- Defensive actionsPablo Maffeo6
- ShotsJavi Guerra3 (on target 2)
- Fouls wonDani Raba3
#La Liga#Valencia#Athletic Club#Pablo Maffeo#Matchweek 9#goalless draw
This review was written by AI from match data (API-Football). FN Score and FN xPts are calculated by Fulltime Note using a published formula.