3-1: Deportivo deepen Valencia’s crisis

Deportivo La Coruña celebrated a first victory in Spain’s top division in eight years, beating Valencia 3-1 in a match that exposed the visitors’ defensive problems.

Deportivo took the lead in the 12th minute when Tárrega turned Luismi Cruz’s corner into his own net. Valencia soon gave away another goal through passive defending, allowing Mario Soriano and then Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to combine for Aubameyang’s third goal in Deportivo’s blue-and-white shirt.

Valencia reduced the deficit before halftime after Bright Ede attempted a risky horizontal pass inside his own area. Sadiq took advantage, although Javi Guerra missed a late chance to equalize when he sent his shot over the bar.

Valencia had more possession after the break as Deportivo dropped deeper, but the visitors could not turn that control into a goal. Deportivo threatened on the counter, and goalkeeper Dimitrievski made a spectacular save to deny Aubameyang a second goal.

The decisive third goal came through another own goal, this time by Diakhaby. The result left Valencia with one point from nine available, while their next opponent is Barcelona at Mestalla.