After Real Valladolid conceded three goals in the opening 30 minutes en-route to a 3-0 loss at Atletico Madrid last weekend, while also racking up a fifth straight La Liga defeat, a solid start for Pucela was essential at Estadio José Zorrilla. The eventual 0-0 half-time scoreline would be seen as a step in the right direction, but there was almost a case of déjà vu early on as Valladolid invited early pressure from Valencia, with Edinson Cavani and Yunus Musah forcing Jordi Masip into vital saves during the opening 20 minutes.
Despite Valencia making the more positive start, the visitors’ fatigue from four matches in 11 days and a Thursday night quarter-final Copa Del Rey defeat against Athletic Bilbao soon showed. Valladolid sensed an opportunity to pounce, duly gaining control of possession and generating chances during the first half’s latter minutes. As the hosts grew in confidence, Darwin Machís went closest to ending Pucela’s five-match goalless run with a powerful strike that was kept out by Mamardashvili.
Eager to build on a strong end to the first period, Valladolid immediately penned Valencia back after the restart and Óscar Plano’s vicious half-volley was tipped behind by Mamardashvili. Momentum was now firmly behind Pucela, but the visiting custodian’s heroics prevented the hosts twice more, as he repelled one on one chances from Machís and Gonzalo Plata.
Valladolid continued to push forward in a desperate attempt to seal a first home win in three, and substitute Larin produced the magic touch to volley in Machís’ superb pass inside the area and end Pucela’s losing streak. On the balance of play, few could argue against Valladolid deserving the points, and they will now aim to use this victory to launch a potential great escape from La Liga’s bottom three. For their part, Valencia rarely threatened after an early flurry of chances, as they fell to a third loss in three league games since the World Cup.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Darwin Machís (Real Valladolid)
