Columbus Crew SC will host six-time La Liga champions Valencia CF in an international friendly May 27. Full-season ticket holders will be able to attend the match as part of their membership. Andrew Maniskas/The Pit
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]olumbus Crew SC announced Friday morning that the MLS club would host six-time La Liga champion Valencia CF in an international friendly later this month.
The exhibition on Wednesday, May 27 will be the first time Crew SC has hosted a Spanish team in club history. Valencia CF has a storied history, winning seven Copa del Rey titles, six La Liga titles, a Spanish SuperCup and the UEFA Cup.
Valencia has reached seven major European finals and won four. In 2000 and 2001, the club made an appearance in the UEFA finals.
“We are looking forward to competing against one of the top teams in Spain at MAPFRE Stadium. Valencia is an exciting team with a lot of young, talented players and it’s going to be a great test for our group,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter in a press release Friday. “I also have a personal connection to the club after visiting the club last year. I was impressed by the warmth and professionalism of the people. The respect goes so far that we brought Nico Estevez, a longtime coach from their youth and professional environments, to work with our Academy players full-time in Columbus as Crew SC’s Director of Methodology.”
Currently, Valencia ranks fourth in La Liga with a record of 21-5-9, trailing only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Dani Parejo leads the club in scoring with 12 goals during the 2014-15 campaign. If Los Che — the club’s nickname — can maintain their spot in the table, Valencia will qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2012-13.
That year, the club advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament.
Valencia has made several high-profile acquisitions recently, including German World Cup winner Shkrodan Mustafi, former Manchester City forward Alvaro Negredo and former Benfica forward Rodrigo.
“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. “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 topflight talent.”
Crew SC sports a 10-5-3 all-time in international friendlies, the last ending in a 2-2 draw with English side Crystal Palace last summer. Kickoff is slated for a 7:30 P.M. start time at MAPFRE Stadium.
The friendly between Columbus and Valencia is classified as a Special Match A, allowing Crew SC Full Season Ticket Members access to the match. Group tickets go on sale tomorrow, May 9, at 10 A.M. starting at $16.
