Valencia claimed a narrow but meaningful win in a tightly fought Mestalla clash, sparked by Justin Kluivert’s 74th-minute strike that tipped the balance in favor of the home side. The game kept fans on the edge as Osasuna battled to escape the threat of relegation, delivering an intense performance that forced Valencia onto the back foot at times, with VAR interventions shaping key moments. Hugo Duro was a constant threat in the closing minutes, twice missing in the final rush and once winning a late spot kick that would seal the outcome for Valencia.
Navarrese visitors had entered the match without a home defeat to start the new year, but they found themselves pinned by Valencia’s high-intensity pressure and compact organization. The visitors struggled to create clear chances as Valencia crowded the central zones and denied space between the lines, resulting in a game that was more about grit than open-through balls. The decisive moments came from relentless pressing and timely finishes rather than sheer volume of play.
Osasuna arrived at Mestalla with purpose, aiming to control possession and frustrate Valencia with disciplined defending. They attempted to retain the ball and build through the middle, yet Valencia’s early stubborn defense kept the ball out of dangerous areas and forced the visitors into making difficult choices in the final third. The first half featured a notable moment when Sergio Herrera found himself in trouble after a save that kept Osasuna’s position intact, as the VAR review erased a potential red card and spared the goalkeeper from sending off his team. This incident underscored how tightly contested the match was and how fine the margins can be.
Kluivert continued to destabilize Osasuna’s back line, with his pace and movement testing the visitors’ central defenders, especially as Aridane organized a stubborn resistance at the heart of the defense. Valencia’s attacks often began from the flanks, and the forwards worked hard to make space in the box, even when the last touch from the cross or shot did not perfectly connect. The match remained balanced as both teams navigated the ever-changing tempo, with Herrera and Mamardashvili turning away salvageable chances when the moment demanded composure. Valencia’s attack in the 32nd minute showed promise as Hugo Duro dragged his shot wide in a sequence that highlighted the fine lines between danger and goal.
The second half brought a shift as Osasuna dominated possession early on, testing Valencia’s resolve with rapid combos and direct runs that pulled the defense out of shape. Abde’s individual brilliance briefly unsettled Valencia, while Chimy Ávila’s attempts on goal ended too high, preserving Mamardashvili’s goal integrity. The match began to open up as both sides realized the value of a breakthrough, and Nico and Lino were introduced to lift Valencia’s tempo and stretch the Osasuna back line. Their presence reignited Valencia’s pressing and created new angles to attack, keeping the visitors honest and forcing them to defend deeper.
In the 74th minute, the pivotal moment arrived when Torró found Kluivert in space, and the Dutch winger struck with clinical precision to flip the script. His finish showed calm and quality, finishing low and into the corner and shifting the balance decisively in Valencia’s favor. Osasuna’s responses grew more urgent as the clock ticked down, but the Valencian defense remained resolute, blocking counter tries and preserving the slim margin that the home side had forged.
The tactical contest intensified as Ilaix and Lino provided fresh urgency on Valencia’s flank play. Osasuna’s injections to the attack did little to alter the pattern of play, and Herrera’s reflexes were on display when a header from Lino threatened to force a dinamic change. The latter stages of regulation time saw VAR intervene again to revisit Aimar’s red card and to award a penalty to Valencia after a challenge in the box. Hugo Duro stepped up, and Herrera again guessed the attacker’s intention, making a crucial save that prevented a tie from becoming even more dramatic. The match wore on with seven additional minutes added, but Valencia held firm to secure a hard-earned victory that offered renewed hope in their fight against relegation and provided a morale boost at Mestalla.
Valencia’s win reflected a game plan centered on pressure, discipline, and timely finishing. Osasuna had their moments and remained dangerous on the counter, yet the home side’s organization and resilience ultimately carried the day. As the final whistle blew, Valencia celebrated a performance that combined grit with surgical finishing, a reminder that even in a tight season, a moment of quality at the right time can redefine a squad’s trajectory and lift them from the relegation zone for the time being. This result underscored the importance of maintaining pressure, exploiting set-piece opportunities, and converting chances when they arise in a league where every point matters and the path to safety is paved with consistent, determined performances from start to finish.