Columbus Crew SC on Friday announced that the team will host six-time Spanish champions Valencia CF on Wednesday, May 27 at MAPFRE Stadium in an international friendly at 7:30 pm ET. Part of the LFP World Challenge, the match will be the first time the club has welcomed a Spanish opponent to Columbus.
“We are looking forward to competing against one of the top teams in Spain at MAPFRE Stadium,” said Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter – who visited the Spanish club last year – in a statement. “Valencia is an exciting team with a lot of young, talented players and it’s going to be a great test for our group.”
One of the most successful clubs in Spanish soccer, Valencia have won six La Liga titles and seven editions of the Copa del Rey. Based on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, the club has also won the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Cup once each. Nicknamed Los Che, Valencia have reached seven major European finals, winning four in their history. The club made an appearance in the UEFA Champions League final twice, in 2000 and 2001.
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“MAPFRE Stadium has long been the site for captivating international matches and we are pleased to welcome Valencia CF to Central Ohio for this match,” said Crew SC President of Business Operations Andy Loughnane in a statement. “The friendly marks an exciting new chapter in our club’s and our venue’s history as we host a team from Spain for the first time, a side with rich history. There is a strong interest in the global game in Columbus and we are excited to offer our fans the chance to see their favorite club battle top-flight talent.”
Entering the week, Valencia rank fourth in La Liga with a record of 21-5-9, trailing only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the table. The team’s leading goalscorer is its captain, Dani Parejo, who has found the back of the net 12 times in 2014-15. Should the club maintain its top-four placement in La Liga, it would qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2012-13, when it advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament. Valencia recently made high-profile acquisitions of German FIFA World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi (pictured above, right), former Manchester City forward Alvaro Negredo and former Benfica forward Rodrigo.
Crew SC are 10-5-3 all-time in international exhibitions, having most recently drawn 2-2 against English side Crystal Palace last summer.
Tickets to the game will go on sale on May 9 at 10 am ET, though Crew SC season ticket holders will have the option to purchase additional tickets starting Friday.
