Bayern Munich travelled to Valencia on Tuesday needing just a point from the Group F clash to book their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Lille's win over BATE Borisov had booked Valencia's spot, but with both of these sides keen to top the group it pointed to an open match of football.
Both sides had chances in the first period, but the major incident occurred just past the 30-minue mark when Antonio Barragan was dismissed for a foul on David Alaba.
Bayern continued to push in the latter stages, but it was Valencia that took the lead late on via Sofiane Feghouli.
However, the away side booked their spot in the knockout stages of the tournament courtesy of a Thomas Muller strike after 82 minutes.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Evening all! Welcome to the Mestalla as two of the biggest names in European football clash in the Champions League. This is what the competition is all about. Both of these sides currently have nine points and victory for either would book their spot in the knockout stages.
Full-time: BATE 0-2 Lille: As a result, Valencia have indeed qualified for the latter stages of the competition. It is now up to Bayern Munich to pick up the result they need this evening.
Teams:
Valencia: Guaita; Cissokho, Rami, Barragan, Costa; Feghouli, Banega, Guardado, Parejo, Costa; Soldado
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Badstuber, Alaba; Ribery, Martinez, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Muller; Pizarro
Valencia's only European loss this season came at the home of Bayern Munich in September and they enter the match having beaten BATE Borisov last time out. Between those two matches the Spanish outfit recorded a 2-0 win over Lille and a 3-0 success away to BATE.
Bayern, meanwhile, began their Champions League campaign with victory over Valencia, but they suffered a surprise defeat to BATE in their next encounter. Back-to-back wins against Lille followed, however, with a 6-1 thumping last time out.
Valencia enter the match with two players very much in form in this competition. Jonas has scored six goals in his last seven Champions League starts for the Spanish outfit. Meanwhile, Roberto Soldado has struck 15 in his last 14 European games. That's some record.
The Spanish outfit have also won nine and lost just one of their last 12 home matches in European competition, but they have won just two of their last 17 European encounters against German opposition.
That said their home record against German opposition makes better reading, suffering just one defeat in their last 13 home matches against such opposition. But as mentioned, Bayern have lost only one of their eight meetings with Valencia.
Bayern have never won in the Mestalla, however, drawing two and losing one of their three visits. Although the Bundesliga outfit would more than likely be happy to return to Munich with a point this evening.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. Just a reminder that Lille's win over BATE has booked Valencia's spot in the knockout stages. The pressure is off them this evening.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Passionate crowd? Check. I am backing a Bayern win this evening. That probably means that Valencia will win 6-0.
Here we go then. Valencia get us underway on this mild evening in Spain. Just a reminder that a point for Bayern would book their spot in the knockout stages.
Decent start from the home side with Parejo and Ever Banega enjoying early touches of the ball. Meanwhile, Franck Ribery has had a couple of mazy runs for Bayern in the opening stages.
Again it's bright work from Valencia as Banega looks for the run of Aly Cissokho, but Phillip Lahm just ushers the ball out of play. Quite a lively opening with both sides exchanging spells of possession.
Cissokho remains a real livewire for the home side in the early stages of this one as he attacks the Bayern defence once more. Meanwhile, Ribery fires a low cross into the Valencia box, but Adil Rami clears the danger.
Bayern have just started to settle into the match in the past few moments as they force a couple of corners. A half-chance comes to Dante, but he heads over from a corner. First real opportunity of the match.
Another half-chances comes the way of Bayern Munich as Thomas Muller collects possession on the right, but his cross is too long for Claudio Pizarro. Bayern are the better side with 11 minutes on the clock.
It's classy football from the away side as Ribery combines with Alaba before releasing Pizarro, but the striker's low cross is cleared by Barragan. Meanwhile, Valencia release the pressure with a free kick down the other end.
Valencia have the ball in the back of the net as Ricardo Costa volleys an effort past Neuer, but the referee had blown for a foul in the box. It was some finish from the defender! Real end-to-end stuff with 15 minutes played at the Mestalla.
Half-chance for Bayern as Alaba fires a free kick from outside the box, but his effort is just past the post. We are still waiting for the first real chance of the match.
Another half-chance comes the way of Valencia as Parejo strikes an effort towards the top corner, but it takes a deflection off Dante and Neuer gathers possession. Both teams are taking it in turns to attack at the moment.
CHANCE! The clearest opening of the match falls to the away side as Lahm drives into the penalty area, but he is just crowded out before Muller fired wide. Meanwhile, Guaita denies Dante from the resulting corner.
It's not a great challenge from Barragan as he catches Ribery with a late tackle and picks up a yellow card for his troubles. However, the Frenchman is alright to continue.
It really is one-way traffic at the moment with Bayern passing and probing around the Valencia box. They continue to force corners and free kicks in advanced areas, but thus far Valencia have defended well.
Both sides continue to exchange spells of possession as we approach the 30-minute mark. However, Bayern remain the side that look the most likely to open the scoring.
Decent spell for the home side as Soldado links with Guardado in attack, but Dante - who just picked up a booking - clears the danger. It is such an open match of football.
The match has just settled into a tempo at the moment with Bayern controlling the midfield. However, we yet to see anything from Toni Kroos for the away side.
Again it's bright work down the Bayern left as Alaba and Ribery exchange passes, but Ricardo Costa has dealt with the threat thus far. Meanwhile, Soldado has struggled for the home side thus far.
CHANCE! Best chance of the match comes to Valencia as Feghouli pounces on a loose ball inside the box before striking towards the bottom corner, but Neuer makes a stunning save. That is top draw from the German stopper.
RED CARD: Barragan (Valencia): Valencia are reduced to 10 men as Barragan dives into Alaba. That's poor from the defender.
That could well change the entire feel of this match. However, the resulting free kick is disappointing as Kroos fires his effort straight at Guaita. You have to fancy Bayern from here.
Valencia have just settled the match down since the red card with a period of possession. Meanwhile, they are waiting to bring on a substitution.
Bayern are in complete control of this match as we approach the interval. Pizarro has a half-chance with an effort from outside the box, but Guaita makes a fine save.
Soldado attempts to drive his side forward as he picks up possession outside the box, but his effort is over the crossbar. Decent spell for the home side despite being down to 10 men.
Impressive period for the home side as Soldado finds the run of Feghouli in a wide area, but the midfielder can only fire over the crossbar. They have been the better side since being reduced to 10 men.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes of added time. Strangely, Bayern’s attack has disappeared in the past 10 or so minutes as they start to give away cheap free kicks.
Valencia 0-0 Bayern Munich
So there we have it. Valencia and Bayern Munich remain level at 0-0 after an enthralling 45 minutes of action in Spain. Bayern started the match the better, but Valencia improved in the latter stages.
The one major incident came just past the 30-minute mark when Barragan was dismissed for a horror challenge on Alaba. But since then Valencia have been the better side. Strange how that works huh?!
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Bayern have dominated possession with 63% of the ball and they have had five shots to Valencia's three.
Just a reminder that Valencia have already qualified for the latter stages of the competition. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich need just a point to do so. Both of these sides will seemingly battle to top the group.
Both sets of players emerge from the tunnel ahead of the second period. It will be fascinating to see how this final 45 minutes shapes up.
Here we go then. Bayern get us underway in the second half. I am still backing my pre-match prediction of a Bayern win. But as it stands they would secure a spot in the next round.
Bayern have certainly started the second half with dominance of the possession. But Valencia's counter-attack football could worry for the German outfit as the half progresses.
Soldado remains the biggest threat for Valencia as he dances his way into the Bayern box, but Dante makes the challenge and clears the danger. Meanwhile, the home supporters remain in good voice.
Half-chance for Bayern as Dante meets a corner from Ribery, but once more he heads over the target from close range. The chances are just starting to come as Soldado heads at Neuer.
Bayern continue to pass and probe in wide areas with Lahm and Ribery interchanging, but the ball is like a magnet to Rami's head as he clears the danger. This one really could go either way.
CHANCE! Bayern create their best chance of the second period as Schweinsteiger stands a cross up at the far post, but Cissokho just beats Muller to the header.
It's all Bayern at the moment with Lahm virtually playing as a right winger. However, the home side continue to clear their penalty area with desperate defending.
Half-chance comes the way of the home side this time as Banega finds Perejo on the edge of the penalty area, but Badstuber makes the challenge. Meanwhile, Rami heads the resulting corner wide of the target.
CHANCE! Valencia should be ahead as Soldado advances into the Bayern box, but he fires his effort over the target from close range. My word.
Valencia continue to defend for their lives as Bayern force corner after corner. Surely the opening goal is coming. Another half-chance comes to Bayern as Muller strikes form close range, but Guaita collects.
Change for Bayern as Xherdan Shaqiri and Mario Mandzukic replace Kroos and Pizarro. Meanwhile, Dante comes close with another header from a corner.
Another half-chance falls the way of Bayern as Javi Martinez strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was always rising. Valencia are dropping deeper and deeper and the pressure continues.
Bayern continue to push as Shaqiri has an effort blocked outside the box before forcing a corner. However, as has been the case so often, Valencia clear the danger.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Mandzukic as he meets a Lahm cross in the box, but his header thumps against the post. It is all Bayern at the moment.
The home side make a change as the injured Parejo is replaced by Jonas. Little over 15 minutes of football remaining and we remain level at 0-0.
Valencia want Dante sent off here as the Brazilian challenges Soldado, but the referee shakes his head and play is continued.
GOAL! Valencia 1-0 Bayern Munich (Feghouli)
Valencia take the lead against the run of play as Feghouli's effort takes a huge deflection that eludes Neuer. The 10 men lead.
Bayern look stunned following that opening goal. But they simply have to respond. Meanwhile, Bayern make a change as Ribery is replaced by the returning Mario Gomez.
Valencia also make a change as David Albelda replaces Banega. Little under 10 minutes of normal time remaining at the Mestalla and Valencia lead.
GOAL! Valencia 1-1 Bayern Munich (Muller)
Bayern level with little under 10 minutes remaining as Muller fires an effort past Guaita from close range.
You just had the feeling that another goal was coming in this match. Now Valencia really are hanging on as Schweinsteiger fires an effort wide of the post.
Final change of the night for Valencia as Guardado is replaced by Nelson Valdez. Can the striker come up with the goods once more?
Valencia enjoy their best spell of possession in the last 10 minutes or so as Soldado combines with Jonas, but the latter can only fire wide and Bayern attack once more.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional four minutes. Will we have a winner?
Valencia look as if they will hang on here as they enjoy a period of possession. However, Shaqiri carries the fight for Bayern as he advances down the left. Remember, a point is enough for the German side.
Valencia 1-1 Bayern Munich
Valencia and Bayern Munich share the points with both sides advancing to the knockout stages of the competition. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and join us tomorrow for more Champions League football. Until then!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
