Carlos Corberán highlighted his team's ability to react after staging a comeback at Anoeta. Valencia won 3-4 in stoppage time, playing with ten men from the second half. The match began with a Real Sociedad goal in the first minute, but the visitors turned the score around before halftime. In the second half, the home team came back and Valencia suffered a red card. However, the team fought with courage to secure a victory that puts them one point away from European places.
Tactical analysis: high press and defensive retreat ⚽
From a tactical development perspective, the key was in the defense-to-attack transition. With one man down, Corberán opted for a mid-low block retreat, seeking quick outlets on the wings. Real Sociedad's initial high press was countered with precise switches of play. The team took advantage of the spaces left by the opponent in midfield to create chances. The red card forced a system readjustment, prioritizing defensive solidity in the center and speed on counterattacks, which proved effective in generating the winning plays.
VAR took a coffee break and Valencia got fired up ☕
Real Sociedad thought that with a goal in the 1st minute and an extra man, they were in for a quiet afternoon. But nobody told Valencia the match was decided. The referee lent a hand by sending off a player, but Corberán's men decided it was better to play without him to make the comeback more exciting. The home fans, already warming up to celebrate, were left with their hands outstretched and smiles frozen. In the end, VAR, which was on vacation, did not intervene.