Douvikas led Celta to the quarter-finals | Football | Kinds of sports

Anastasios Douvikas is on a roll. The cup elevates the Greek striker, who has been scoring goals in pairs for three rounds already. The last one, against Valencia, too permeable at the back, who said goodbye to their rivals in front of the fans who again filled the Mestalla and were left without the expected celebration. Valencia came, grown up with her recent past. Four wins in a row – three in the League and one in the Cup – gave confidence. A strip that has not been connected for more than two years. Too much time. And on a windy and warm night they were preparing to enjoy the Copa del Rey match. But Rafa Benitez’s Celta, another Mestalla fan favourite, quickly ruined that idyllic evening and progressed to the quarter-finals.

Celta surprised us with two very quick goals. The score 0:2 threw everyone into confusion. Those who came in boots with spikes, and those who came with a sandwich and a desire to play football. The black and white defence, too open without Mosquera, seemed to encourage Celta’s attackers to do evil. Jaume’s unsuccessful clearance ended with an unexpected shot from behind by De la Torre, which opened the scoring. And Diego Lopez’s knockdown of Miguel Rodriguez in the penalty area just three minutes later forced the referee to award a penalty, which Duvikas, very active throughout the first half, converted into an unexpected score of 0:2. A particularly alarming result is a draw without return.

Valencia could not speculate and went on the attack. An attack without a pattern. Out of anger. Javi Guerra lengthened his already famous stride, but this time his steps were faster than his head. Baraja’s side were in chaos, but were helped by an involuntary clearance from Miguel Rodriguez’s elbow, which forced Burgos Bengoechea, after consulting with him, to whistle, a second penalty that helped Valencia thanks to his superb specialist. In these launches, Pepelu will close the distance.

The Valencian’s goal energized the fans. The fans raised their team, which was previously dead. The duel became especially difficult. The straps were jumping and the match got out of control. There were chances in both areas, although neither of the two quarter-final contenders managed to capitalize on them.

After the restart, Valencia doubled their attacking activity. Baraja, who saw everything going on for Fran Perez’s side, removed Alberto Mari from the other flank and put Sergi Canos, a player capable of suppressing and creating danger, on the left flank. But Celta, huddled in their zone, knew how to find options with Duvikas, De la Torre, Williot Svedberg and Miguel Rodriguez becoming specialists in breaking through the Valencia defence.

Baraja restored the starting XI after league matches to try and turn things around, and after Canos, Gaya and Hugo Guillamon also entered the squad, freeing Javi Guerra to move forward. But among the many Valencian waves, forced by the ticking clock, Celta sneaked through the night very soberly to create good chances. Benitez’s team created the same danger as Valencia with three counter-attacks, laying siege to Celtic’s territory.

Benitez’s patience was rewarded with a superb header from Douvikas, who scored three braces in a row in the Copa del Rey, six goals in three games for the Greek, who became the tournament’s top scorer and rewarded Rafa Benitez, the teacher who once again excelled tactically, as happened in League match at Mestalla, his student in that very Valencia, the champion of Valencia, Pipo Baraja.

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