HE Real Valladolid secured a gritty victory against Espanyol, weathering a late surge from the visitors after Braithwaite pulled one back in the 87th minute. The home side held firm in the closing moments to snap a skid that followed two straight defeats, delivering a much needed boost for the club and its supporters.
In the starting lineup, Blanquivioleta boss Jose Rojo Martin known as Pacheta reshuffled the attack and midfield, betting on Hongla to anchor the defense while Fresneda and Escudero stayed on the flanks to pressure Luis Perez and Olaza, and Roque Mesa operated in midfield. For Espanyol, the only alteration under Aleix Vidal saw Joselu Mato leading the line as the focal point of their attack.
Early ambition shone from the home side, with a clever exchange of passes from Roque Mesa setting up a scoring chance for Larin, whose effort was ruled offside by the offside line. It was a warning shot that signaled Espanyol would have to deal with an opponent ready to go forward. The visitors responded with pressure through Plata and a strong header by El Yamiq that tested the hosts at the left post guarded by Pacheco.
The visitors controlled the ball less often but when they did, they showed the level of quality in their ranks. Darder unleashed a powerful shot from distance that forced Asenjo into a save, marking the 15th minute of a crowded José Zorrilla. The game intensified, and Iván Sánchez left the field after a clash with Silver, receiving treatment before continuing. His well struck attempt from inside the box beat Pacheco and opened the scoring for Valladolid in the 25th minute.
Early errors by the home side translated into dangerous moments for Espanyol, yet Valladolid’s defense remained stubborn. A fall by Escudero helped Puado settle the scorebook with a precise strike that hit the crossbar but didn’t stay down. The visitors pressed for a second goal, and Iván Sánchez almost created danger again as the momentum swung toward the end of the first half.
After the restart, Diego Martinez sought more possession to fuel a comeback. El Yamiq closed down a dangerous attempt from Denis Suárez, and Joselu tried a long-range effort that sailed over the target as Valladolid maintained control for stretches of the restart.
Pacheta reacted by making a change, bringing Aguado onto the field to provide balance in the middle of the park. A superb through ball from Silver enabled Aguado to find the back of the net, doubling the advantage for Valladolid. The crowd roared as the Blanquivioleta extended their lead with a second goal, while Espanyol pushed forward in search of a reply, Puado attempting a cross shot that narrowly missed the target.
The Valladolid coach continued to push for a comfortable finish, rotating players to preserve energy while keeping the attack minded. Plata then added a third with a well-executed finish that culminated a fast counterattack, though the ball rolled just past a difficult finish and left the destiny of the match in the balance for a moment.
From there the final minutes brought relentless pressure from Espanyol. Braithwaite found space between the lines and converted with a well-timed strike, reducing the deficit to 2 1. The forward’s finish demonstrated his ability to exploit pockets of space and trouble the defense, continuing Valladolid’s anxious moments as the clock ticked toward the final whistle.
In the end, Valladolid persevered through the late intensity and held on to secure a win that will be remembered for the way the team responded to adversity and finished with poise. The result gave fans a reason to celebrate while the visitors left with questions about their execution in the last third of the field.
Data sheet
2 Real Valladolid: Asenjo; Fresneda, Joaquín, El Yamiq, Escudero; Roque Mesa, Hongla; Silver, Iván Sánchez, Plano; Larin. Substitutes used Aguado, Monchu, Sergio León, Machis, Olaza. Braithwaite suffered an injury setback or exit from the field. Official substitutions and timings as observed in the match report.
1 Espanyol: Pacheco; Oscar Gil, Sergi Gómez, Montes, Olivan; Darder, Denis Suárez, Joselu Mato; Puado, Braithwaite, Vini de Souza. Substitutes used Rubén Sánchez, Edu Expósito, Nico Melamed, Lazo, Pierre Gabriel. Goal timing notes include Iván Sánchez for Valladolid and Braithwaite for Espanyol, with the match taking place on match day twenty four of LaLiga Santander in front of a crowd of over nineteen thousand at the José Zorrilla stadium. Source attribution: league match report and team sheets.