Valencia pulled off one of La Liga's most improbable heists at the Reale Arena on Sunday, clawing back from two goals down to edge Real Sociedad 3-4 in a frenzied finale that saw the visitors reduced to ten men midway through the second half yet still found a way to win. Javi Guerra's brace in the final moments — the second arriving in the 93rd minute — broke Real Sociedad's hearts and kept Valencia's European ambitions on a knife-edge with just two matches remaining in the season.
The hosts dominated possession with 86 per cent of the ball but were caught cold by Valencia's clinical finishing early on. On 8 minutes, Javi Guerra met Diego López's pass and fired the visitors ahead, only for Real Sociedad to level immediately through circumstances that would soon unravel. Inside 22 minutes, Hugo Duro swept home to make it 1-2 after collecting Eray Cömert's assist, and the Basque side looked rattled despite their territorial superiority.
Real Sociedad clawed their way back into contention as the first half wore on, with Orri Óskarsson emerging as a persistent threat. The Icelandic forward's movement and positioning posed constant problems for Valencia's backline, and his persistence would yield dividends in the second period. Yet the visitors appeared to have wrestled back control of the encounter, threatening to edge clear despite the hosts' stranglehold on the ball.
The game's complexion shifted seismically on 70 minutes when Eray Cömert was dismissed for a professional foul as the last man, leaving Valencia to defend with a numerical disadvantage. In that instant, Real Sociedad sensed their opportunity. Óskarsson converted to make it 2-2, and suddenly the home crowd believed a comeback was on. Real Sociedad piled forward relentlessly, and with Valencia stretched and vulnerable, they took the lead through a goal that seemed to have settled matters.
Yet Valencia's resolve proved steelier than their predicament suggested. Deep into the closing stages, after 89 minutes, Guido Rodríguez equalised from André Almeida's assist to haul them level at 3-3. The drama intensified; both sides were spent, yet neither willing to yield. Then, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, came the cruellest blow for the home side: Guerra struck again, this time from Thierry Correia's pass, to make it 3-4 and snatch an almost unbelievable victory.
Guerra's performance was extraordinary — the Valencia forward finished with a 9.2 rating, his two goals and three shots on target a masterclass in poaching and positioning despite the relentless pressure the home side exerted. Guido Rodríguez's late intervention, rated 8.5, proved the catalyst for the final assault, whilst for Real Sociedad, Óskarsson's 8.0 rating reflected his tireless work in a losing cause, with two shots on goal and one goal to show for his efforts.
Real Sociedad's dominance in possession and territory counted for little — their 13 shots and 86 per cent control of the ball rendered meaningless by Valencia's ruthless efficiency. The hosts mustered only six shots on goal and were undone by a defence that crumbled under pressure, especially after Cömert's departure left them vulnerable to the counter-attack and set-pieces alike.
This victory lifts Valencia to fourth place with two fixtures remaining, putting them firmly in contention for Champions League qualification. Real Sociedad, by contrast, drop to fifth and face an anxious final fortnight as the European places remain wide open. The Basque side have two games to arrest their slide; Valencia must maintain this momentum when they travel next weekend.