Bristol City beat Spanish second division side Real Valladolid 4-0 in their final pre-season friendly
18:53, 02 Aug 2025Updated 19:54, 02 Aug 2025
Bristol City beat Real Valladolid in their final pre-season friendly(Image: Bristol Live)
Bristol City ended their pre-season in style with an emphatic 4-0 win against Spanish visitors Real Valladolid.
New head coach Gerhard Struber fielded a strong team for his first outing at Ashton Gate, giving a glimpse into his team selection and intense style before the Championship campaign commences next week against Sheffield United.
The newest of the summer signings Radek Vitek, signed on loan from Manchester United this week, made his first appearance in City colours and played the full 90 minutes. Fellow new addition Adam Randell started in midfield alongside Jason Knight whilst striker Emil Riis began as the focal point.
The Robins burst out of the blocks on their return to Ashton Gate. A brief scare as Jason Knight was pick-pocketed in his own half was responded to excellently by City. A lovely move up the pitch resulted in Anis Mehmeti receiving a cross and setting up Randell who directed the ball into the bottom right corner with just four minutes on the clock.
It took just two minutes for Struber’s men to double their lead. Another wonderful team move resulted in Scott Twine bringing down a cross impressively before showing some neat footwork to make room to square it to Ross McCrorie. The Scot then had an open goal to slot into with City securing an early two-goal lead.
Struber’s side continued to impress in the early stages. The link-up play in the middle of the park was often very neat with Riis often coming deep to offer a flick-on before busting a gut to drive forward.
The hosts also were not afraid to go down the flanks and use the direct nature of Yu Hirakawa and Anis Mehmeti to run at defenders and get balls into the box. A good chance came of a cross from the Japanese winger who found the head of Riis. The Dane could only float it over the bar to his dismay.
As 20 minutes passed, Valladolid began to look more threatening. New goalkeeper Radek Vitek swept up one of two passes neatly before a visiting forward put an effort just past the post after the Reds lost possession on the edge of their penalty area.
The visitors had their biggest chance with ten minutes of the first half to go when Knight brought down an opposition player in the box to concede a penalty. However, the big man in goal got down brilliantly to save the spot-kick, claiming it from going in the bottom right corner; the perfect way to introduce yourself to BS3.
A free kick from Twine followed which was tipped over the bar before the referee blew for half time.
The Robins started the second period on the front foot once again. A comical stumble from Riis was a let off for Valladolid, however the Dane quickly made up for it by adding a third for City.
The Spanish opponents lost the ball sloppily in a dangerous area, with Mehmeti pouncing. He struggled to find space for a shot before Hirakawa got a hold of it and played it to City’s new no.18 who swivelled and fired it past the opposing ‘keeper.
The game quietened down then, with the winners all but decided. Substitute Sinclair Armstrong came close with an effort from a tight angle getting saved. It came from a great move with Mehmeti playing backwards before Randell switched it round the corner to McCrorie who played the Irish striker in behind the defence.
With just two minutes left on the clock, the Reds well and truly killed the game off. A quick throw in found substitute Ephraim Yeboah who crossed the ball to McCrorie who was as free as a bird at the back post. The Scot finished excellently, slotting it round the keeper into the bottom corner.
Bristol City starting XI: Radek Vitek, George Tanner (Haydon Roberts, 90’), Zak Vyner, Rob Atkinson (Rob Dickie, 82’), Yu Hirakawa (Mark Sykes, 67’), Ross McCrorie, Adam Randell (Adam Murphy, 82’), Jason Knight, Scott Twine (Ephraim Yeboah, 67’), Anis Mehmeti (Josh Stokes, 90’), Emil Riis (Sinclair Armstrong, 67’)