UD Las Palmas clinched a significant and hard-fought victory over Valencia (2-0). The Gran Canaria players overcame all the obstacles their opponents presented in Saturday's match, which saw goals from Álex Suárez and Marc Cardona in the final minutes. With 35 points already secured, García Pimienta's players are closing in on their first objectives. Additionally, the scoreline allows them to surpass their opponents in head-to-head statistics.
Valencia's return to the Estadio de Gran Canaria posed a real test of obstacles for UD Las Palmas. From the first minute, García Pimienta's players understood that it would be a night of possession and passing, seasoned with patience to find possible weaknesses in the visitors' lines.
Similarly, the yellow team needed precision in passing in their own half to avoid feeding Valencia's idea of countering Canarian play with quick balls into space. Local possession remained above 70% from the start.
Danger was absent in both penalty areas during the first 45 minutes. Valencia tried with a long shot from Pepelu, attempting to surprise Álvaro Valles from midfield. And with a header from Mosquera from a free kick. In both cases, the ball didn't find the coordinates of the Canarian goal.
Difficulties in placing any dangerous balls in the Mamardashvili area were evident. The first to try was Javi Muñoz, with a shot from outside the box that ended up in the hands of the Georgian goalkeeper. And just before the end of the first half, in a rehearsed play, Mika Mármol managed to connect a pass from Sandro. But a defender intervened to clear the ball for a corner.
The 0-0 score persisted into halftime, indicating that this was also the case in the second half, where the intense battle continued, but the ball didn't reach dangerous areas for shots.
The parameters of the match remained the same from the start. The first real chance of the second half came in the 71st minute, with a slalom by Sandro Ramírez, whose powerful shot went over the crossbar. After that play, Valencia also pushed forward, with shots from Jesús Vázquez and an unintentional deflection from Mármol that didn't trouble Valles.
The game changed pace after the substitutions, in a thrilling final stretch. Las Palmas went all out in search of the goal that would secure three points at home. And they achieved it with a header from Alex Suárez, a minute before the final whistle, after a brilliant maneuver on the wing by Marc Cardona.
The 25,633 spectators at the Siete Palmas stadium erupted in joy, which continued four minutes later with the second goal, scored by Marc Cardona.
The points stayed on the island, with the general feeling that salvation is within reach.