Valencia secured a vital home win against Osasuna, with Largie Ramazani's second-half penalty proving decisive.
Valencia claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Osasuna at the Estadio de Mestalla. Largie Ramazani was the hero, converting a penalty in the 67th minute to secure all three points for the home side.
This La Liga clash saw Valencia, currently 16th and battling relegation, face 10th-placed Osasuna. The visitors aimed to strengthen their mid-table position after a promising run of form.
The first half was a tense affair, characterized by robust challenges. Osasuna's V. Rosier received the game's first yellow card in the 21st minute for holding.
Valencia captain J. Gaya was then cautioned in the 30th minute for a rough tackle. Both teams struggled to break down resilient defenses, creating few genuine scoring opportunities.
The midfield battle dominated proceedings, leading to a goalless stalemate at the break. Neither side could establish sustained attacking pressure.
At half-time, the score remained locked at 0-0. Both teams knew an increase in intensity and creativity was necessary to find a breakthrough.
Valencia introduced L. Rioja early in the second half, replacing A. Danjuma in the 56th minute. Soon after, E. Comert received a yellow card for rough play in the 58th minute.
The game's turning point arrived in the 65th minute when Osasuna's S. Herrera was booked for tripping inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot, awarding Valencia a penalty.
Largie Ramazani stepped up confidently to convert the penalty in the 67th minute, placing the ball precisely to give Valencia the lead. The Mestalla erupted, sensing a vital victory.
Osasuna responded with multiple substitutions, including R. Garcia and R. Moro, attempting to inject fresh attacking impetus. Valencia also made changes to solidify their defense and protect the slender advantage. As the clock ticked down, M. Gomez of Osasuna was shown a yellow card in the 84th minute, reflecting growing frustration.
Valencia's victory was backed by a higher expected goals (xG) figure of 1.69 compared to Osasuna's 0.31. The home side registered 14 total shots, with Ramazani's penalty being their only effort on target. Osasuna failed to test the Valencia goalkeeper with zero shots on target from their 8 attempts, despite holding 52% possession.
This hard-earned win provides a significant boost for Valencia, helping them climb away from the immediate threat of relegation. Osasuna will rue their inability to create meaningful chances, missing an opportunity to advance further up the La Liga table.
