Valencia seized the moment in La Liga’s fifth matchday, dispatching Athletic Club 2-0 at the Estadio de Mestalla in a contest that turned on a razor-edge refereeing decision and showcased the clinical edge of Carlos Corberán’s resurgent side. Athletic’s promising first half unraveled after Dani Vivian’s controversial dismissal, leaving questions about the visitors’ title credentials and highlighting Valencia’s opportunistic rise.

The opening 45 minutes were a tale of missed chances and defensive grit. Athletic Club asserted early control, with Oihan Sancet twice forcing Valencia’s Julen Agirrezabala into sharp saves, the second a diving fingertip stop that kept the hosts afloat. Iñaki Williams also threatened, but Agirrezabala’s form in goal was the difference, denying the visitors a deserved lead.

Valencia, meanwhile, offered flashes of danger on the counter. Javi Guerra nearly capitalized on a defensive lapse, and Foulquier’s raids down the right kept the Athletic backline on alert. Yet at halftime, the deadlock remained, both sides searching for the breakthrough.

The match’s defining moment arrived in the 61st minute: Dani Vivian, tracking Baptiste Santamaría’s run, was adjudged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. After a VAR review, the red card was brandished, and Athletic were reduced to ten men. The decision—hotly debated post-match—transformed the contest, gifting Valencia both initiative and space.

Athletic’s resistance lasted barely a dozen minutes. From a corner in the 73rd, Javi Guerra’s shot found Santamaría, who tucked home at the near post to ignite Mestalla. The Frenchman’s goal punctuated a wave of pressure, and with the visitors stretched and weary, the result became inevitable.

Hugo Duro sealed the victory in stoppage time, finishing off a slick move involving Ramazani and Almeida, a dagger to Athletic’s hopes and a statement of Valencia’s attacking intent. The final whistle saw Mestalla erupt, Valencia climbing the table while Athletic were left to rue what might have been.

Aymeric Laporte’s debut for Athletic offered scant consolation, as the Basques now face questions about their ability to cope with adversity and controversial officiating in high-pressure matches. For Valencia, this result signals a team that capitalizes on momentum shifts, with Corberán’s tactical flexibility and Agirrezabala’s shot-stopping laying foundations for a top-four push.

If La Liga is a game of moments, then this fixture was defined by one: a red card roulette that spun fortune Valencia’s way, reminding Athletic and the league that destiny can hinge on a single decision. The implications are immediate—a test of Athletic’s resolve and a boost for Valencia’s ambitions as the campaign gathers pace.