Stoke City of England drew 1-1 with Valencia of Spain in their final pre-season friendly ahead of the new season. The match was held at the bet365 Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, England, on August 2 (KST).
What happened?
Stoke City, competing in the English Championship (second tier), tied 1-1 with Valencia of Spain's La Liga (first tier) in the match. Valencia opened the scoring in the 12th minute of the first half through Arnaut Danjuma. He turned a cutback from Javi Guerra on the right side of the penalty area into a right-footed shot from the right side of the goal area, successfully finding the net.
Why it matters for Stoke City
Trailing 0-1 at halftime, Stoke City leveled the score in the 11th minute of the second half through an own goal. Million Manhoef sent a cross toward the goal from the right side of the penalty area, which Valencia defender Miguel Monferrer attempted to clear with a header only for it to head into his own net.
What comes next?
Bae Jun-ho, an attacking midfielder who returned to Stoke City following a break after the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, started on the bench and came on as a substitute in the 31st minute of the second half. He showed an aggressive presence, including attempting one shot, but did not record an attacking point. In the end, Stoke City and Valencia failed to score additional goals and concluded the friendly with a 1-1 draw.
What's next for Stoke City?
Stoke City will play their first round of the 2026-2027 Carabao Cup against Oldham Athletic (fourth tier) on August 8 local time.
