The most underrated player of LaLiga and more things we learned

The consistency Valencian has shown this season – be it in big games like Wednesday or the smaller ones that define a championship season – stands in stark contrast to its opponent in the Madrid jersey.

Los Blancos has from time to time expressed an interest in Gayà during his career. If they are looking for someone to replace Marcelo immediately, then his name must appear in the composition. As is Atlético Madrid, with the imminent departure of Luis Filipe.

Still an excellent footballer from the long line of production of Valencia's left-back quality, Gayà seems to follow in the footsteps of Alba and Juan Bernat.

2. Sign a center forward or Real Madrid will lose a year

Karim Benzema has been a vital player for Real Madrid for almost ten years at the club and, with a heightened comeback in goal, this season he has wonderfully escaped from a campaign in which many others fled.

But as a 31-year-old with over 600 senior games to his credit, it's clear the Frenchman can not expect him to do it alone.

Although he got a consolation goal with the last kick of the match, for more than an hour against Valencia, the number nine has barely touched the ball – he's not even there had a race so deep that made the reputation of Benzema, likely sign of tired legs.

Yet when Zidane started announcing the changes, it was never realistic to choose to remove the veteran and replace him with another central striker. The only other player Madrid has in this position is Mariano, who has not been proven yet, and signing 13 minutes on the pitch in the summer says a lot about Zidane's confidence in him.

If Madrid had signed another quality scorer last summer, things may have been different in Valencia and many other games this season. The same error surely can not be committed again.

That would not even want to break your piggy bank.

Raúl de Tomás, author of 12 goals and loaned to Rayo Vallecano, is already in the club's books. If the product of the Madrid Academy manages to double LaLiga's numbers in one of the worst teams in the country (where he often has to create and finish), imagine what he could do as a that player support with quality service at Bernabéu.

3. Valencia is once again a great team

If Valencia has found its place in the top four for the first time since 2015 last year, this season looks like a consolidation.

Admittedly, the campaign started slower than Marcelino's men had hoped, but their results in all post-Christmas competitions have always been excellent – suggesting that one of Spain's biggest clubs is back for good. .

In the year of their centenary, Che Che have reached their first Copa del Rey finals in 10 years and have an excellent chance of reaching the semifinals of the Europa League thanks to their familiar connection with the relegation fighters, Villarreal, while they only represent one point. fourth place in the league.

The way they narrowed the gap on Getafe was particularly impressive. In four days, Marcelino's team faced two of the toughest opponents of the country, Sevilla and Real Madrid, and defeated them.

The wind is in their sails, they have a coach with a philosophy that suits the club, the crowd of Mestalla is behind them, and their team is clearly designed to compete in several competitions.

Few would now bet that Valencia would become the first team, apart from the big three of LaLiga, to be in the top four in a row since the last Los Che victory in 2011.