Super Eagles striker, Umar Sadiq, netted a crucial equalizer as Valencia thwarted Villarreal’s bid for a third consecutive LaLiga win, forcing a late 1-1 stalemate at the Estadi de la Ceramica.
Heading into the match, Villarreal had been in strong form, winning four of their previous six games, and had the opportunity to close the gap on Athletic Club in the race for a Champions League spot.
A victory would have put them just one point behind the Basque side, although Athletic still had a game to play on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Valencia, despite three wins in their last four outings, remained in the relegation zone, making them clear underdogs.
The early stages of the game saw little attacking threat, with Luis Rioja firing a long-range effort over the bar in the opening minutes. That set the tone for a first half in which both teams struggled to find their shooting accuracy.
Neither goalkeeper was truly tested in the opening 45 minutes, with Diego Conde making a routine save and Giorgi Mamardashvili dealing with two tame efforts.
However, the deadlock was eventually broken by a stunning strike from Pape Gueye. Positioned at the edge of the box, he unleashed a powerful shot into the far corner, leaving Mamardashvili helpless.
Villarreal emerged from the break looking to double their advantage. Early in the second half, Alex Baena and Santi Comesana both had opportunities but failed to trouble Mamardashvili.
Nicolas Pepe came closest, forcing a save from the Valencia goalkeeper before finding the back of the net moments later, only for the goal to be ruled out due to Tajan Buchanan’s offside position in the buildup.
As Valencia struggled to mount sustained pressure, Villarreal appeared poised to secure all three points.
But after Pepelu came close with a shot that narrowly missed the target, the visitors finally found their breakthrough.
Substitutes Rafa Mir and Umar Sadiq combined, with Mir’s initial effort being parried by Conde before Sadiq reacted quickly to head in the rebound.
That late equalizer proved to be the defining moment of the match, ensuring the points were shared.
Though Valencia remain winless in their last 12 away fixtures, the result sees them pull level on points with UD Las Palmas, just outside the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Villarreal will be frustrated with the missed opportunity and must quickly regroup ahead of their crucial European qualification clash against Rayo Vallecano next weekend.
