With Valencia playing in the Champions League play-off game (August 18/19 and 25/26), Nuno has no time to waste in experimenting and the club’s first pre-season friendly was a case in point.
Nuno played what could have been a starting league first team against a lower league Austrian side (Valencia are still waiting for the incorporation of Mustafi, Alcácer, Feghouli , Cancelo and Otamendi) and only in the second half made any concession by introducing younger players.
Recent signing from Celta Vigo, Santi Mina made his Valencia debut and scored in the 52nd minute. Bakkali, remained on the bench as he has only been able to train once with Nuno’s squad. With no Otamendi nor Mustafi, Nuno opted for a back three of Vezo, Orbán… and Enzo Pérez.
David Kraft, the Austrian team’s goalkeeper was in a generous mood and his errors gifted the Spanish team with goals apiece for Rodrigo and Negredo. Youth team player, Fran Villalba, also made his first team debut but the headlines belonged to the young Galician, Mina who apart from his goal also tried an audacious lob from the halfway line. A player full of confidence.