Super Eagles forward Sadiq Umar scored a second-half diving header to rescue a 1-1 draw for Valencia at Mallorca on Tuesday, ending a goal drought stretching back to mid-February.
Sadiq Umar delivered when his team needed him most, converting a diving header in the 67th minute to cancel out Mallorca’s opener and give Valencia a share of the spoils in a tightly contested La Liga Week 32 fixture on April 21.
Coach Carlos Corberan handed Sadiq a starting berth for the clash, with both clubs sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone and in desperate need of points. The first half was quiet for the Nigerian, who struggled to get into the game as Mallorca controlled possession and created the better opportunities without converting.
The contest came to life after the break. Samu Costa broke the deadlock in the 49th minute, rising to meet a Sergi Darder cross and powering a header past the Valencia goalkeeper to give Mallorca the lead. New bettors wanting to follow the relegation battle can get started with the Bet9ja bonus code before the final rounds of fixtures.
Sadiq’s Diving Header Levels the Scores
Valencia grew into the game and were rewarded in the 67th minute. Javi Guerra flicked a header inside the Mallorca box and Sadiq reacted sharply, throwing himself at the ball and connecting cleanly to send it into the net for 1-1. It was his second goal since joining Valencia on loan in January, and his first since February 15.
Sadiq had a chance to win the game outright in the 81st minute, letting fly from distance, but the Mallorca goalkeeper gathered the effort comfortably. Neither side managed a late winner and the match ended level. Nigerian football fans tracking La Liga action can check out the Bet9ja’s current promo code ahead of the final stretch of the season.
Valencia’s Survival Picture After Week 32
The draw keeps Valencia in 13th place with 36 points from 32 games, just four points above the relegation zone. Most of the teams beneath them have a game in hand, which keeps the pressure on Corberan’s side heading into the final six rounds.
Sadiq has had a mixed time since arriving in Spain from Real Sociedad, where injuries limited him heavily. There have been flashes of quality, but consistency has eluded him. This goal, though, should do him a world of good heading into the run-in. Fans backing Valencia to beat the drop can use the YOHAIG promo code to claim a welcome bonus before the next round of matches.
With six games remaining in La Liga, Valencia need to turn draws into wins quickly if they want to confirm their top-flight status before the final day.
📌 Did You Know?
- Sadiq Umar joined Valencia on loan from Real Sociedad in January 2026, becoming the second Super Eagles striker at the club after Peter Odemwingie’s stint in 2012.
- Before his move to Valencia, Sadiq had scored seven goals in 14 La Liga appearances for Real Sociedad across the 2024/25 season before injuries curtailed his campaign.
- Mallorca’s Estadio de Son Moix has historically been a tough ground for Nigerian players. No Nigerian striker had scored there in La Liga before Sadiq’s effort on Tuesday.
- Samu Costa, who scored Mallorca’s opener, is a Portuguese midfielder who joined the club from Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League during the January window.
- Valencia’s four-point cushion above the drop zone is the same margin they had with six games left in the 2022/23 season, a run they survived on the final day.
- Sadiq stands at 6ft 5in, making him one of the tallest Nigerian outfield players to feature regularly in La Liga history.
- Both Mallorca and Valencia have drawn four of their last five La Liga fixtures, reflecting how tight the battle for survival has become in the lower half of the table.
