Valencia looks to Europe after defeating Las Palmas

Months of suffering, of gritting their teeth in the face of adversity and seeking the protection of Mestalla to nourish their hope. No one saw Valencia in the Second Division, but something kept them anchored to the first circle of relegation. At the Gran Canaria stadium, where they hadn't won in 20 years and against an anguished UD Las Palmas , Valencia came away with a victory that allows them to affirm that they will remain in the First Division. Carlos Corberán , the coach who engineered a miraculous second half of the season, certainly doesn't consider salvation a done deal, but a nine or ten-point lead with 12 left to play seems unmissable for a team that has only bowed to Barça, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid. [ Narration and statistics: 2-3 ]

To reinforce the cautious message the coach is instilling in the dressing room, Valencia saw a game they had under control become more complicated in the most unexpected way in the first-half stoppage time. They let Viti break free down the right flank, but with no one to stop him between Pepelu, Mosquera, and Gayà, they forced a corner from Sandro in the heart of the box. Unfortunately for Diego López , who, trying to block Bajcetic 's header, was caught off guard by the ball, only to be hit by his arm. De Burgos Bengoetxea didn't hesitate to award a penalty, Iglesias Villanueva confirmed his decision on the VAR, and Sandro deceived Mamardashvili . Corberán's men had complicated a placid game for themselves in the 45+1 minute.

Las Palmas had to settle for survival throughout the first half. They faced an incisive opponent, who pressed and easily reached the box, although they lacked accuracy there. Rafa Mir was the best example. He returned to the starting lineup alongside Hugo Duro and showed he has a sense of smell but not accuracy. With a volley, he plucked out a Pepelu free kick and almost took advantage of a pinball between Canary Island defenders that led to a Foulquier cross into the box.

Diego López also tried his luck with a long-range shot before Valencia's goal came in the 22nd minute in a near-perfect move. Gayà escaped once again along the edge to put a ball on Mir's head, who didn't finish but flicked it on so that it fell dead at the feet of Rioja , who was waiting on the right, glued to the byline. He returned it to the heart of the area where Hugo Duro appeared to beat Horkas ' goal.

The goal gave Valencia more control. Calmness and confidence trumped Las Palmas' need to score points if they want to stay in the fight for survival. However, they controlled their anxiety, waiting for their moment to arrive. Rafa Mir struggled to do the same. The Murcian was so eager to score in a difficult season that he even got ahead of Diego López to finish another cross from Rioja just as the Asturian was preparing his leg.

Just when everything seemed under control, a harsh penalty came along that brought Las Palmas, without the magic of Fabio Silva , back into the game. However, after the break, the script was back to normal, with Mir forcing Horkas with a cross shot.

Valencia had control of the game, and just when Diego Martínez looked to take control with his substitutions, Hugo Duro scored his second goal. Diakhaby flicked a long shot on Diego López's run, and the Asturian, clever, had time to see the Madrid native approaching before slotting the ball home from the byline. Valencia's number 9 had already beaten Álex Suárez to score his tenth goal of the season.

The match became tight because, now, the islanders' nerves were showing, and with them, the mistakes. With the score close, Corberán looked to the bench and made another change. He had opted for two forwards from the start, but instead changed the formation, maintaining the threat with Sadiq and maintaining control with Almeida . What he envisioned was soon reflected on the scoreboard. The Nigerian dropped into the center circle, between yellow jerseys, stumbled to hold off a ball that he passed to Almeida to reposition himself in the box, but the Portuguese saw Diego López coming in from the left side. The Asturian delivered a cross that Horkas spat off Suárez 's thigh, converting it into Valencia's third goal.

What looked like a clear victory became complicated again in the 83rd minute when a Campaña cross was headed home by McBurnie to keep Las Palmas alive in the final minutes. Valencia scrambled to find the legs to defend themselves as the Canaries poured in. They dominated an entrenched opponent, and for the first time in the entire match, Moleiro 's genius appeared, teaming with Campaña , Mika Mármol, and Januzaj . Although Mata had a chance to equalize, the Canaries were saved from a fourth by Sadiq 's last-gasp error when he only had to tap in Foulquier's assist. They will continue to struggle in pursuit of a goal that Valencia already has in their pocket.