A disoriented Valencia miraculously scrapes a point at Mendizorroza

Can you win a La Liga match without winning a duel and creating chances? The answer is simple: it's impossible. But in case anyone had any doubts, Valencia has been proving it for weeks. At Mendizorroza, they survived and came away with a point because Alavés lacked accuracy, and because Agirrezabala had a handball in the second half and Denis Suárez 's exquisite free kick hit the post in the closing moments. These strokes of luck don't bury a galloping crisis in play and results. [ Narration and statistics: 0-0 ]

Valencia needed to show much more than they had shown in this league start, but their momentum lasted 20 minutes, the only time they were more recognizable due to their intensity. The intention was to stifle Alavés and turn every steal into a run at Sivera. Javi Guerra did just that, but without failing in his decision to assist Danjuma 's entry instead of setting up a shot. As a statement of intent, it was valid. To win the match, it wasn't. It was necessary to make that attitude a habit, something they failed to achieve.

Corberán had relied on a recognizable starting eleven, with Thierry returning and Pep Guardiola in the center, with Diego López in the attacking midfield and Hugo Duro ready, as always, to battle with the center backs. A lineup in which Copete and Danjuma were the difference with some of the ones seen just a year ago. However, that sense of awakening disappeared in an instant as soon as the ball started to reach Lucas Boyé .

Antonio Blanco and Pablo Ibáñez slowed the game down and began to find the Argentine with a mobility that caused creaks in the Valencia defense. The first chance went over the bar; the second, a double, was also saved, but Corberán's team was already entrenched, with doubts and problems with the game plan. The plan had quickly run out of steam, and no one knew how to turn the page. In the first half alone, Alavés was able to generate more chances than its average of the previous eight matches.

After the break, little changed. The Valencians continued to chase after the blue and white shadows. The only difference was that Toni Martínez, who had created a threat, took over. The Murcian warmed up with a shot into the side netting and, shortly after, finished off a free kick telegraphed by Abde, forcing Agirrezabala to shine between the sticks .

Valencia needed solutions, and Corberán seemed unsure how to start plugging the gaps Coudet was feeding with Carlos Vicente, Denis Suárez, Guridi, and Aleñá. Every duel was a non-starter because the opponent had decided to dig deep and rely on their luck not to concede. Cömert and Santamaría tried to shore things up; Lucas Beltrán tried to obstruct them, but the game was still in Alavés' hands. And they could have won it if Denis Suárez's masterful free kick hadn't hit the post before the entire Valencia defense looked on impassively. Ridden by corners, they only struggled to hold on in a battle that was absolutely impossible to win.