Super Eagles striker Umar Sadiq was the hero as Valencia secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid in Saturday’s La Liga clash.
The Nigerian forward, making his seventh appearance for Los Ches, continued his fine form by scoring the decisive goal; his fourth of the season.
Sadiq has now netted in three of Valencia’s last four league games, proving instrumental in their survival push.
He rescued a point against Villarreal in February, struck twice to deny Osasuna victory last weekend, and once again delivered when it mattered most against fellow relegation battlers Real Valladolid.
The game started brightly for Valencia, with Diego López putting them ahead in the seventh minute with a precise finish.
Sadiq had a golden opportunity to double the lead but fired wide under pressure from Enzo Barrenechea after a quick free-kick routine.
That miss proved costly, as Valladolid capitalized on a defensive blunder from David Torres.
The young defender’s misplaced backpass forced goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili into a tough situation, allowing Juanmi Latasa to pounce and slot the ball between his legs to make it 1-1 before halftime.
Despite the setback, Sadiq led Valencia’s resurgence after the break. The Nigerian forward timed his run perfectly in the 58th minute, poking the ball beyond Karl Hein to restore his team’s lead and ultimately secure all three points.
Valencia will now shift their focus to their next league fixture, hoping Sadiq can continue his rich vein of form and guide them further away from the drop zone.
With another clutch performance, Sadiq has strengthened his case for a place in Eric Chelle’s final squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The 27-year-old is already on the 39-man provisional list, and if his recent form is anything to go by, he could force his way into the final selection.
