Umar Sadiq has done it again for Valencia | OneFootball

Umar Sadiq has done it again. His header at San Mamés steadied Valencia’s survival fight, echoing last season’s loan from Real Sociedad when five goals under Carlos Corberán lifted a side five points off safety after 21 games. Now permanent, his impact remains decisive.

Valencia are on 42 points and host Rayo Vallecano on Thursday seeking to seal next season’s LaLiga place. A win could, depending on other results, bring the final UEFA Conference League berth within reach, currently Getafe’s and three points away. According to Cadena Cope, Sadiq leads the winter signings’ scorers with four, level with Getafe’s Martín Satriano.

Signed in January for five million, he built rhythm, overtook Hugo Duro by late February and has hit form this past month. He sits above Luis Vázquez on three, and Neal Maupay, Guido Rodríguez and Ademola Lookman on two. He also has three assists, taking his direct tally to seven.

Only Lookman, with roughly 400 LaLiga minutes, has a better league rate, one every 208 minutes to Sadiq’s 211. Lookman has three Champions League goals and seven in total since early February, for an overall 242 minutes per goal.

Sadiq’s value lies in timing, unpredictability in the box and a readiness to tee up team-mates. Last term he scored six, five in LaLiga across 16 games and 825 minutes, plus one in the Copa del Rey. With three matches left, he has already surpassed that Valencia return with four in LaLiga and three more in the Copa, seven overall.

Source: Superdeporte