Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq marked his first goal since completing his permanent transfer to Valencia CF, helping the club secure a vital 2–0 derby victory over Levante and boosting their survival hopes in La Liga.
The first half was largely cagey, with few clear chances. Levante came closest through Iván Romero, whose diving header forced a sharp save, but the deadlock remained intact at halftime.
Valencia manager Carlos Corberan made a decisive triple substitution in the 58th minute, introducing Sadiq alongside Javi Guerra and Guido Rodríguez, a move that immediately injected energy into the team.
The breakthrough came when Guerra linked up with Largie Ramazani, who unleashed a powerful strike beyond Mathew Ryan to hand Valencia the lead.
Sadiq later doubled the advantage in the 84th minute. The Nigerian striker showed strength and composure to win a high ball against Matías Moreno, drive toward goal, and calmly fire home his first La Liga goal since joining the club permanently. He completed six of 10 passes and made his presence felt physically after coming on.
Sadiq’s journey to Valencia was a story of patience and persistence. After struggling for regular minutes at Real Sociedad, he joined Valencia on a six‑month loan in January 2025, where he impressed and helped the club climb out of the relegation zone. His performances during the loan convinced Valencia to make the move permanent ahead of the 2026 season.
Valencia’s win lifted them out of the relegation zone, while Levante remain seven points adrift from safety. For Sadiq, the goal could be the spark he needs to fully relaunch his La Liga career.
