In a duel of old battles, fights for titles and football greatness that today lie in the trunk of memories, the Deportivo-Valencia match offered an entertaining fight. Up to date, yes. Far from past glories, but with reasons to provide an entertaining evening, with some flashes of class, also, from the home team. Not so much from a disappointing Valencia that still hasn’t won, beaten (3-1) by a rival that knows no defeat in its return to the top division.
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Deportivo started exuberantly because they became strong with and without the ball to turn the match into a punishment for the rival. Everything happened while the noisiest part of Riazor remained silent. It was not an easy summer between that section of the stands and the club. It was reflected in the Teresa Herrera and the light debut against Elche when the Coruña stadium seemed like a cemetery. The strike in the animation hurt everyone. And in these types of situations, it is always advisable to put the club above all. That was what was done on Friday night to reach an understanding and for Riazor, one of the most intense arenas in Spain, to sound again as usual.
The protest lasted until the 12th minute of the match. It was then, when the stands began to wake up, that Deportivo forced a corner kick. Luismi Cruz took it, at mid-height, and Tárrega, with his back, sent the ball into his own goal. In a football story, the episode could be remembered as “the people’s goal.” It seemed something like that and came to reward Deportivo’s excellent performance, greedy and playing, adjusted in the starting eleven to bring together four players (Luismi, Soriano, Amatucci, and Riki) who looked for each other inside. Football blossomed because Valencia also failed to organize a response, unable to connect passes.
Riazor erupted in joy because everything had aligned, team and fans. Everything fit after a summer of battles. In that catharsis, a Valencia free kick towards the home area turned into a Deportivo counterattack with Aubameyang running. At 37 years old, one might suspect the physical condition of the Gabonese striker who surely has already had his best days in football, but who still has enough to be the absolute reference of this Deportivo eager to grow. The guy picked up the ball in midfield and launched into space to weave a self-pass with which he shook off two defenders. And already in front of goalkeeper Dimitrievski, he solved the one-on-one with a subtle chip. The finish would have been signed by the great Djalminha, who, present in the box, applauded pleased. Aubameyang has three goals in the first three rounds of his return to the Spanish League.
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AUBAMEYANG HAS COME TO LALIGA TO ‘FARM’ AURA 🤯🔥
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) August 30, 2026
Third goal in three games for the Gabonese 🌟🇬🇦#LALIGAenDAZN⚽️ pic.twitter.com/pPaDdR458u
Two goals ahead on the scoreboard, with the stands fired up and a guessed rival, the wind was in Deportivo’s favor. But it got complicated in a ball exit misinterpreted by the rookie Polish center-back Bright Ede. Sadiq scored, alert to the gift, and Valencia tried to grow with the ball, anchored to Javi Guerra’s handling. But this decaffeinated Valencia, full of players who are not up to their history, did not have the level. Surely they are the least to blame for having to defend a badge that demands so much.
Valencia wanted and couldn’t, pressing more with effort than talent after the break. Leo Román stopped a distant attempt from Ugrinic before Nsongo Bil, a gladiator at Aubameyang’s service, forced an own goal from Diakhaby. With more than half an hour to play, Valencia sought football but did not find it despite Deportivo seeming more weakened as the minutes passed. The home team folded, and that’s where the troubles came from, not so much the visitors’ chances. Valencia fell, and their fans in the stands punished players and management while Deportivo supporters began to celebrate.
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| Standings | PT | PJ | PG | PE | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Standings | PT | PJ | PG | PE | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
19 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
