Valencia’s fight for survival in La Liga took an exciting turn on Saturday evening, and once again, Super Eagles star Umar Sadiq was at the heart of it.
The 28-year-old Nigerian forward, who has been rediscovering his scoring touch, delivered the winning goal in a tense 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid at the Mestalla, Footballrover reports.
With four goals in his last four games, Sadiq is proving to be the spark Valencia desperately needs.
Umar Sadiq inspires vital Valencia win over Real Valladolid
Coming off a brace in a 3-3 thriller against Osasuna, Sadiq wasted no time making the fans feel his presence and impact.
He played a key role in Valencia’s opening goal, combining with José Gayà to set up Diego López for a smooth finish.
However, the visitors equalised just before halftime after a defensive blunder from Valencia’s backline gifted Juanmi Latasa a golden opportunity.
Undeterred, Valencia pushed forward in the second half, and on 58 minutes, Sadiq seized his moment.
A well-timed pass over the top found him in stride, and he held off his marker to slot home the winner—his fifth goal since arriving on loan from Real Sociedad.
Can Sadiq’s scoring form keep Valencia afloat?
Despite having the fewest touches (29) of any outfield player who played the full match, Sadiq made his presence count where it mattered most.
His decisive strike ensured Valencia climbed out of the relegation zone, securing their fourth home win in five games.
With just one point separating them from danger, Valencia still has a fight ahead. But with Sadiq in red-hot form, their survival hopes are very much alive.
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