Super Eagles forward Umar Sadiq came off the bench to score the winning goal as Valencia secured a 1-0 victory over Elche in the Spanish La Liga on Sunday.

The Nigerian international made an immediate impact after coming on as a substitute, finding the net in the 69th minute to earn Valencia their first away win of the 2026/27 league season at the Estadio Martínez Valero.

Sadiq, who replaced Pablo Maffeo in the 61st minute, produced an impressive individual effort after linking up with Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma.

The 29-year-old received a pass from Danjuma inside the penalty area, skillfully dribbled past Elche midfielder Gonzalo Villar before sending a low shot into the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead.

His goal proved decisive, handing Valencia their first victory under newly appointed manager Javier Aguirre, who recently took charge of the struggling Spanish club.

The strike was particularly important for Sadiq, as he was making his first appearance after missing seven consecutive La Liga matches because of injury. His last appearance had come towards the end of August.

The goal also marked his second of the 2026/27 campaign, providing a timely boost following his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

His return to action could be crucial as Valencia aim to improve their position in the league standings.

Despite claiming all three points, Valencia faced considerable pressure from their hosts throughout the encounter.

Elche dominated possession with 69.1 percent and registered 13 attempts on goal compared to Valencia's five but failed to make their superiority count.

The hosts came close to opening the scoring in the first half when Lucas Cepeda's effort struck the crossbar.

Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski also made a vital contribution, producing an important stoppage-time save to deny Federico Redondo and protect his team's narrow advantage.

Sadiq almost added a second goal late in the match after combining with Dani Raba and Danjuma in the 87th minute, although Valencia were unable to take advantage of the opportunity.

The victory boosted Valencia's chances of moving further away from the relegation zone and gave Aguirre his first win since becoming the club's head coach.

Valencia will now prepare for a difficult La Liga encounter against Spanish giants Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium on Saturday, November 7, with Sadiq hoping to maintain his impressive form following his return from injury.