Valencia CF draws 1-1 with Stoke City in pre‑season friendly

Valencia CF faced Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium in Stoke‑on‑Trent on 1 August 2026 in the final pre‑season friendly of their English tour. The match ended 1‑1. Arnaut Danjuma opened the scoring in the 12th minute after an assist from Javi Guerra, confirming his importance after a recent back injury. The equaliser came from a Monferrer own‑goal in the 55th minute.

Carlos Corberán used the game to test line‑ups, debuting goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and fielding Danjuma as a striker alongside Javi Guerra and Ryunosuke Sato. Injured forward Pepelu and long‑term absentees Diego López, José Copete, Alberto Marí and Sergi Canós remained unavailable. The club highlighted Danjuma’s versatility and the positive signs from the defensive and attacking phases.

Stoke City manager Mark Robins praised his side’s defensive work and the increased aggression after halftime, noting the draw as a useful benchmark before the upcoming Carabao Cup tie. Both clubs view the fixture as a key step in finalising preparations for the upcoming LaLiga and Championship seasons.