A victory built on effort and teamwork

Valencia CF secured all three points against Athletic Club at San Mamés Stadium in what marked their 100th visit — between the old and current stadiums — to the home of the “Lions.” It was Valencia’s first win at “La Catedral” since 2019.

Among the standout performers were Umar Sadiq — scorer of the afternoon’s decisive goal — and Stole Dimitrievski, who made several crucial saves. However, the true protagonists of the match were the values of effort, hard work, and collective sacrifice, which enabled the team to claim victory in such a difficult venue as San Mamés.

“The points are very important; every match is the most important one. We came here ready to fight and work hard, and we managed to get the win through everyone’s effort. The whole team ran, stayed disciplined, followed the coach’s instructions, and we all performed at the level needed to win the match. I had won here before, and I know how much you suffer. The team knew how to suffer, work, play, and make the most of our efficiency in both penalty areas,” Dimitrievski told VCF Media after the match.

These three points have given the team confidence heading into the upcoming domestic fixtures, starting with Rayo Vallecano.

“We’re not relaxing at all. We’re going all out for the next match; we can’t afford to let up. It’s a very important victory, but on Thursday we want another three points. It’s a huge game. We have to stay focused on getting the win so we can keep building momentum and then look ahead to the next challenge,” stressed José Gayà in his post-match comments to VCF Media.

In the clash against the Madrid-based side, the team will once again be backed by the home support at Mestalla.

“For us, having Mestalla behind us is key. Creating that unity makes us stronger. Mestalla’s support makes us a better team,” said Carlos Corberán during the post-match press conference.