Vallecano Vallecano came into the match after a long winless run at home, seeking a breakthrough in La Liga against Valencia. The Madrid side pressed high from the opening whistle, intent on forcing Valencia into mistakes and denying them time on the ball. The early pace was intense as Vallecano tried to establish control, pinning Valencia back and testing their defense with quick, aggressive movements on the left flank.
Four minutes in, Oscar Trejo delivered a precise ball from the left into a crowded area. Isi Palazón sprang ahead of Hugo Duro and smacked a shot beneath Mamardashvili, giving Vallecano the lead with a left-footed finish. Valencia faced immediate pressure as they sought a rapid response and a shift in momentum.
Moments later, Valencia again found themselves under threat after Alejandro Catena intercepted near the three-quarter line. He passed to Trejo, who drew a one-on-one with Mamardashvili. The Valencia goalkeeper stood tall, parrying the attempt and then denying Álvaro García with a sharp stop as the ball rebounded back into play. The hosts clung to their advantage as Valencia regrouped and tried to balance the attack.
Valencia’s goalkeeper Mamardashvili had to be at his best, repeatedly denying the hosts with sharp saves and reflexes. He produced a string of impressive stops in the middle of the first half, including a brave effort that foiled Sergio Camello’s close-range attempt. Valencia’s rhythm dipped as Vallecano’s high-pressing approach disrupted the visitors, making every possession feel tense and contested.
The half ended with Vallecano looking more settled at Vallecas, while Valencia gradually found pockets of space and momentum. A late first-half volley from Hugo Duro skimmed over the bar, signaling Valencia’s potential to rebound after the break as both teams headed to the locker rooms with a sense of unfinished business.
As the second half commenced, Valencia tried to lift their tempo from the wings. The right side began to click, creating sharper crosses and through-passes that demanded concentration from Vallecano’s back line. The game stayed tight, with Musah and Trejo exchanging positions and the two veteran goalkeepers exchanging significant saves to keep the scoreline intact.
Vallecano stretched their lead around the hour mark through a set-piece dynamic that proved decisive. A corner from the right found an unmarked Nico, who directed a precise header back across the goal. The ball found its way into the net via the crossbar, doubling Vallecano’s lead and putting Valencia in a difficult position as they chased a way back into the match.
The goal carried emotional weight for Valencia, who rallied in search of a response. They introduced fresh attacking options, bringing on Justin Kluivert and Marcos André in a bid to add pace and width. Yet Vallecano’s resilience remained firm, and the home side continued to defend with focus and organization, weathering Valencia’s late pressure as the clock wound down.
In the dying moments, Valencia found life again with a late header from Mouctar Diakhaby, narrowing the gap to one goal. Vallecano, however, held firm in the final minutes, defending deep and absorbing Valencia’s attempts to level proceedings as the match reached its conclusion. The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Vallecano, underscoring the effectiveness of their early pressure and set-piece execution.
Vallecano finished the match with three points that lifted them to the upper part of the table, while Valencia remained a step behind, looking for consistency as the league schedule continued to tighten. The game highlighted Vallecano’s willingness to press and control tempo, complemented by timely finishing and solid goalkeeping, contrasted with Valencia’s moments of quality and the decisive moments that ultimately shaped the result.
Data sets and match events reflected a contest defined by decisive moments at both ends of the field. Vallecano’s 2-1 win solidified their position and gave them momentum, while Valencia left the stadium with factors to address and improvements to pursue as they prepared for the next fixture in La Liga Santander.
END #RayoValencia 2-1
This victory illustrated how Vallecano leveraged set-piece situations and quick transitions to edge past a determined Valencia side. The result left Vallecano with a growing points tally and Valencia needing to translate effort into results across the coming matches, aiming to climb the standings in a tightly contested league.
Data sheet:
2 – Vallecano: Dimitrievski; Balliu, Lejeune, Catena, Fran Garcia; Oscar Valentín (Pozo, m.87), Santi Comesaña (Pathé Ciss, m.69); Isi Palazón (Nteka, m.76), Trejo (Unai López, m.76), Álvaro García; Camel (Falcao, m.69).
1 – Valencia: Mamardasvili; Thierry, Paulista, Diakhaby, Gayá (Lato, art. 64); Hugo Guillamón (Almeida, art.77), Yunus, Nico (Marcos André, art.56); Castillejo, Hugo Duro (Justin Kluivert, m. 64) and Lino.
Goals: 1-0: M.4 Heat; 2-0: M.51 Nico, own goal; 2-1: M.93 Diakhaby.
Judge: Jesús Gil Manzano (Extremadura Committee). Balliu (m.20), Isi (35), Dimitrievski (62), Comesaña (63), Trejo (70), del Rayo; and Musah (68) and Correia (94) from Valencia.
Events: The match, which coincided with the 5th week of LaLiga Santander, was played at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid in front of 12,085 spectators.