Umar Sadiq was on target again as he scored the winner in Valencia’s 2-1 victory over Valladolid in Saturday night La Liga action, Afrosport reports.
Diego Lopez put Los Che ahead at the Mestalla in the seventh minute before Juanmi Latasa levelled for the visitors in the 40th minute.
Umar Sadiq however popped up with the winner in the 58th minute for his fourth goal in seven La Liga games since joining on loan from Real Sociedad during the January transfer window.
The Super Eagles forward’s four goals have come from exactly four shots on target, making him the only player since February 1 with a 100% shot success rate in the Spanish top flight.
Reacting to Sadiq’s performance, Luis Rioja believes his performance has created healthy competition in Valencia’s forward line.
“We knew that he was a striker with a lot of goals and he was not getting the regular appearances that he wanted, that he came from a team with a lot of competition and that undermined his confidence,” Rioja told the club website.
“But we knew his level of talent. He has potential and he is recovering his form. We have a lot of firepower up front and when Hugo Duro comes back they will fight for the position.
“They are two goalscorers and two players who have to give us a lot. That is good for the team, that we have competition. That is what makes a team and a dressing room better.”
4 – Umar Sadiq has scored four goals from his four shots on target in LaLiga since 1 February, the most of any player in the competition with a 100% success rate with his shots on target since then. Impact. pic.twitter.com/p30shDPkms
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 8, 2025
Valencia boss Carlos Corberan also reiterated the quality options he now has for goals at his disposal.
“I have three great forwards because Sadiq is showing it. Hugo has shown it too, but right now he is not available. The same with Rafa Mir. I have absolute and full confidence in the three forwards we have,” Corberan stated.
“I think that Sadiq today exemplifies what the game was like. A game with mistakes at times. And with the mentality to recover from those situations he was in. I think there is a parallel between what Sadiq did during the game and what the team did..”
Valencia’s victory moved them out of the relegation zone, up to 16th, one point clear of 18th-placed Alaves.
