Baraja's 'children' make Valencia fly and complicate Celta

When nothing works, when loneliness weighs heavily and the path cannot be found, the refuge is at home, the common place that unites feelings, and offers confidence to heal wounds.. Valencia has found its home in Javi Guerra, Diego López and Alberto Marí. They are barely 20 years old but they have shown in a moment of collective panic that they do understand everything that is at stake. They are part of the town of Mestalla, raised in Paterna looking for a dream that now they catch with an astonishing coldness. The ball does not burn them and they take football to the essence, to the simple, to fly on the field, to look for the pass, the shot, the goal. Nothing else matters in football even if everything collapses around. In Vigo they took three points that may well be worth a salvation to a Celta who gets into trouble. They once again exemplified why Rubén Baraja believes in them. [Narration and statistics]

Balaídos appeared on the road like a huge mountain to climb. The day painted an advantageous picture, as has happened on other occasions when Valencia has had Valencia itself as its worst rival. Celta was hesitant, leaning on a mid-table that had led them to lose four of the last five games. Salvation was one victory away and that made a rival dressing room that felt alone seeing its future take shape in Singapore, without respect for those who still have to ensure it, presaged that difficulties would not be lacking..

That is why Baraja has long sought the protection of the children in this anomalous club so far from the one he led in the field.. Javi Guerra gave him three vital points against Valladolid in the last breath of the game and became the 6 that was so missed. In Vigo, in the 88th minute, it was Alberto Marí from Alicante who closed the victory with a huge header from Foulquier's center. Neither Cavani, out due to suspension, has done better this season. Those two goals are worth six points and who knows if also permanence.

Before there were lights and shadows again. The light was provided by Justin Kluivert showing that, despite his long absence due to injury, he continues to be an effective weapon in attack. He scored finishing off a gift from Diego López in the 8th minute, who caught Mamardashvili's long goal kick behind Cervi. On the banks, with the speed of the tireless squad player and Lino, less successful, Celta bled to death, for whom it took 20 minutes for first Carles Pérez and then Hugo Mayo to put the Georgian goalkeeper from Valencia in trouble. They were growing at the same time that the rival focused on preserving an advantage that seemed short.

Change of Blades

Upon returning from the locker room, Valencia launched again with Tapia avoiding a point-blank shot from Kluivert and Iván Villar kicking a shot from Diego López. They overwhelmed, but Celta had already woken up despite the fact that Carvalhal took Iago Aspas off the field. Two months without scoring are too much even for the captain and the change to playing with two wingers gave the team wings. So much so that it led them to the tie in a set piece, their best weapon in the entire game. Seferovic headed Tapia's corner and once again made the Valencians tremble, for whom the ball did not last. Even Óscar crashed a direct free kick on the post.

Assessing that the point was still valid, Baraja did not let his team sink against a Celta capable of turning the score around. Even Paulista was expelled for a double yellow trying to avoid it. But a run on the wing by Foulquier, supported by Yunus, ended with a cross that Alberto Marí will never forget in his life. And Valencianism, neither.