Valencia have begun their final season at Mestalla, the club’s legendary home, with a goalless draw against Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.
The 0-0 result was the first of the last 19 matches Valencia will play at the stadium. It was also a notably unusual scoreline for the Spanish championship, where goalless draws are a rare outcome.
Mestalla reaches its 100th anniversary this year, adding further significance to Valencia’s farewell campaign at one of Spanish football’s best-known grounds. The stadium has been the club’s home throughout its latest season, but the match against Celta marked the start of the final stretch before Valencia move on from the historic venue.
For the supporters, the prospect of leaving Mestalla has prompted a strong response. According to Spanish publication Marca, Valencia have set a new record for season-ticket sales this season, with the total already exceeding 40,000.
That figure underlines the level of interest surrounding the club’s last campaign at the stadium. The farewell has therefore begun not only with a moment of history but also with a clear show of commitment from Valencia’s supporters, who have secured their places in record numbers for the remaining home fixtures.
The opening match of the farewell series, however, produced little drama in front of goal. Valencia and Celta Vigo cancelled each other out, leaving the score level at 0-0 and giving the Bats a quiet start to their final 19 home games at Mestalla.
There is now a long distance still to cover before the stadium’s farewell is complete. Valencia must navigate the rest of the championship campaign while trying to give Mestalla the send-off its significance demands.
The supporters have already responded by setting a new benchmark for season-ticket sales. The task now falls to the Bats to complete the championship journey in a manner worthy of their final season at a ground that has reached a century of history.
Mestalla’s last campaign has consequently opened with contrasting emotions: the importance of the anniversary, the record demand from Valencia fans and a first farewell match decided by neither side. After 100 years at the stadium, the club’s final 19 fixtures there will now form the closing chapter of its time at the historic home.
