Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored for the third league game in a row for Deportivo La Coruna, and it turned out to be the decisive contribution in a 3-1 win over Valencia at Estadio Riazor. The hosts led 2-1 at half-time thanks to an early César Tárrega own goal and Aubameyang’s finish, and a second-half Mouctar Diakhaby own goal put the result beyond doubt. Carlos Corberán’s Valencia side, who pulled one back through Umar Sadiq, are now winless in two of their three league outings and sit 17th in La Liga.
Key Moments
- 13′, César Tárrega turns the ball into his own net to give Deportivo an early lead, assisted by pressure from the home attack.
- 17′, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converts for Deportivo, finishing a move set up by Mario Soriano to make it 2-0.
- 26′, Umar Sadiq pulls one back for Valencia, halving the deficit and keeping the visitors in the contest heading into the break.
- 59′, Mouctar Diakhaby puts the ball into his own net to restore Deportivo’s two-goal advantage and effectively kill the game at 3-1.
- 90′, Substitute Adrià Altimira is shown two yellows in quick succession and then a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct, ending the match with Deportivo down to ten men.
Tactical Breakdown
Deportivo lined up in a 4-4-2 and were aggressive and direct from the off, forcing Valencia into the first mistake within 13 minutes. Despite holding only 45% of the ball across the 90, the hosts registered 11 shots and generated an xG of 1.42, while their backline limited Valencia to a similar volume despite the visitors enjoying more possession. Leo Román’s three saves were important in keeping the scoreline manageable after Sadiq’s goal, and Deportivo’s compactness in the second half prevented Corberán’s men from building any real momentum.
The match’s decisive shift came just after the hour mark. Valencia’s manager responded to the Diakhaby own goal by making three substitutions at once at the 60-minute mark, bringing on Arnaut Danjuma, David Otorbi and Hugo Duro. Deportivo answered four minutes later with their own change, swapping Riki Rodríguez for Teun Gijselhart to reinforce the midfield. With the scoreline at 3-1, the contest was largely decided, and Deportivo managed the clock comfortably thereafter.
Valencia’s 5-4-1 shape gave them control of the ball, as their 55% possession and 86% pass accuracy show, but they could not turn that dominance into goals. The opening 26 minutes exposed the risk in their defensive structure, with Tárrega’s own goal and Aubameyang’s finish arriving before Corberán’s side had properly settled. Sadiq’s individual quality earned Valencia a foothold, but their inability to create clear-cut chances after the break meant a single goal was never going to be enough.
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Verdict
The win moves Deportivo La Coruna to seventh in La Liga with five points from three games, their first victory of the campaign secured in convincing fashion. Valencia, still searching for a first win under Corberán this season, drop to 17th on one point after three matches. Aubameyang’s arrival has given Deportivo a focal point up front, and on this evidence, the newly promoted side have a genuine goal threat to build around.
Deportivo la Coruna
Valencia
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Umar Sadiq