Vera's late strike turns Mannucci's dominance into frustration
César Valverde snatched a victory in the 90th minute to end their poor run against Carlos A. Mannucci, who had beaten them 3-2 in their previous encounter on 28 June. The away side finished on top of a match where they were out-attacked but not outplayed, with S. Vera's goal proving decisive after 112 home attacks went largely unanswered.
The decisive moment came when Vera found space in the box and finished clinically, ending a barren spell for the visitors. It was not a result of sustained pressure — Valverde registered fewer attacks and corners than their hosts — but rather a moment of quality when Mannucci's high line was picked apart.
The statistics tell a story of wasted opportunity. Mannucci dominated with 112 attacks compared to 81, but only managed four shots on target against five for Valverde. Seven shots went wide from home territory, while the visitors were more efficient despite having less possession. That price has gone for the hosts, who cannot afford another slip against teams that sit deeper.
Discipline was patchy throughout, with seven yellow cards exchanged between the sides. Mannucci picked up two bookings in five minutes around the quarter-hour mark, while Valverde sat deep and soaked it up, taking their cards more sparingly. The game became scrappy, but the away side managed their emotions better in the closing stages.
The result moves Valverde closer to the top half, though Mannucci remain three points clear in third place with 27 points from 15 games. Valverde sit on 19 points from 14 games, and this win could change the momentum of their campaign. The table goes out of the window in these games, but results like this are what separate promotion contenders from the rest.