Sadiq Umar has scored in back-to-back La Liga games for Valencia, heading home the decisive second goal in a 2-1 win over Girona at the Mestalla that lifts Los Che to 11th in the table and puts him firmly in Eric Chelle’s summer squad conversation.
Sadiq Umar is making his case in the only language that matters: goals. The Super Eagles striker scored his second goal in consecutive La Liga appearances on Saturday as Valencia beat fellow relegation fighters Girona 2-1 at the Estadio de Mestalla. He rose to meet a cross from Jose Gaya in the 59th minute and buried a header into the net, a finish that was well-placed but whose build-up was even more impressive. He made a diagonal run across his marker, created separation with his body, and held off a Girona defender to plant the header cleanly past Paulo Gazzaniga. It was the kind of goal that showcases exactly what the 6ft 5in striker does that most forwards simply cannot replicate.
Coach Carlos Corberan rewarded Sadiq with a start after his performance and goal in last week’s draw at Mallorca, and the Nigerian responded by being Valencia’s most dangerous forward across the 71 minutes he was on the pitch. He had a chance in the 19th minute, receiving a pass inside the box and firing goalward, only to see his effort go wide. He spent much of the first half fighting for the ball with limited service as Valencia probed but struggled to convert dominance into chances. The second half brought the opening and Sadiq took it. Those who want to bet on La Liga’s final-day drama can use the Bet9ja promo code for an enhanced welcome offer before the weekend’s fixtures.
Largie Ramazani had opened the scoring five minutes after the break with a low shot into the bottom right corner. Sadiq’s header six minutes later made it 2-0. Joel Roca pulled one back for Girona in the 63rd minute to set up a tense final half hour, but Valencia held on. The result moves Los Che to 11th in the table with 39 points from 33 games, comfortably mid-table.
What Two Consecutive Goals Mean for Chelle’s Thinking
Eric Chelle has a significant problem in the striker department heading into the summer. Victor Osimhen is the undisputed number one, but the players behind him are either out of form, injured, or not playing regularly. Tolu Arokodare goes into the summer relegated with Wolves and under a cloud following a disciplinary issue. Cyriel Dessers has had a difficult season. Taiwo Awoniyi has been used as an impact substitute at Forest rather than a regular starter. Into that vacuum, Sadiq Umar is inserting himself with goals at exactly the right moment.
The Super Eagles face Poland on June 3 and Portugal on June 10. Those are the two highest-profile friendlies Nigeria have played in years, and Chelle will want a credible backup striker available behind Osimhen for both. A player scoring in consecutive La Liga games for a top-flight club is making the most compelling possible argument. Sadiq has been in and out of Chelle’s plans for most of the coach’s tenure, but form at this level, at this moment, is difficult to ignore. New Bet9ja users who want to follow the Super Eagles striker race into the summer can get started with the YOHAIG welcome bonus ahead of the June friendlies.
Valencia’s Survival and What It Means for Sadiq
The club context also matters. Valencia are 11th and safe, but they were in a very different situation just a few weeks ago when Sadiq’s form began to pick up. The timing of his goals has been valuable to the club as well as to himself. A striker who scores when the pressure is on is a striker who builds trust with the coaching staff, and Corberan’s decision to start him again after Mallorca confirmed that trust is developing.
Valencia’s final five games will determine whether they end the season in the top half or slip back towards mid-table, and Sadiq will have a role to play in those fixtures. If he can add two or three more goals before the season ends, he arrives at Nigeria’s summer camp in the form of his career. That is the version of Sadiq Umar that Chelle needs, and right now, it looks like the version that is showing up. Those tracking Sadiq’s run of form and wanting to back La Liga’s final weeks can find the latest offers at Bet9ja’s La Liga betting page before matchday 34.
📌 Did You Know?
- Sadiq Umar previously played for Valencia on loan during the 2022-23 season, scoring seven goals in 32 La Liga appearances, before returning to the club on a permanent basis, making him one of the rare Nigerian players to have had two spells at the same top European club.
- Valencia CF play at the Estadio de Mestalla, one of Spain’s most historic football grounds, which has been the club’s home since 1923 and holds over 49,000 spectators.
- Sadiq stands 6ft 5in tall, making him one of the physically largest strikers currently representing the Super Eagles, a profile that gives Nigeria a different attacking option from the more technical Osimhen and the pacey Arokodare.
- Girona FC, Valencia’s opponents on Saturday, had one of the most remarkable seasons in recent La Liga history in 2023-24 when they finished third and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
- Carlos Corberan, Valencia’s current coach, is a Spanish tactician who previously managed Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion in the English Championship, giving him experience across multiple European football cultures.
- The June 10 friendly against Portugal, which Sadiq could feature in if selected, will be played just days before Portugal’s opening 2026 World Cup group game, meaning Nigeria will face a Portugal side that is essentially in full tournament preparation mode.
- Sadiq’s first stint at Valencia in 2022-23 was considered a success despite the club being relegated that season, with his performances generating significant interest from clubs across Europe’s top leagues during the subsequent summer transfer window.
