Gonzalo Plata did not score but was the star of Real Valladolid’s move out of the relegation zone thanks to a 2-1 win against Espanyol in their first leg in the Spanish league last Sunday. Game number 24 had the Ecuadorian as the bearer of criticism for the Valladolid team, and apart from crashing the ball past the post (it could have been his team’s third), Plata had an outstanding game. It was unbalanced and unstoppable for his markers.

Valladolid is now in fourteenth place, and now Almería, Valencia and practically doomed Elche are the teams that are in danger of losing the category. Iván Sánchez (25 minutes) and Álvaro Aguado (62) brought victory to the blanquiviolet team. For Espanyol, Denmark’s Martin Braithwaite made the stop in the 87th. Plata, who resented the media for the second time, received multiple and unanimous praise for his performance against the Catalans.

This is what several Spanish newspapers said about the World Cup in Ecuador.

Brand: “Valladolid gets ‘Salary’ from Zorrilla. An important victory for the team of DT Pacheta with the Ecuadorian as the star. Valladolid bounced back from a heavy defeat against Celta with a crucial win against Espanyol, in a game where Gonzalo Plata showed that he is a player of immense potential. He didn’t score, but he assisted, sent the ball into the frame and drove the opponent crazy on the right side. Silver, who has already appeared several times on the right side, picked up the piston in the second. His new dance partner was Rubén Sánchez, who signed up for Óscar Gil who couldn’t with the Ecuadorian. Aguado marked the second after a wonderful silver action. Plata himself managed to register a victory in a hand counter. Aguado wanted to retaliate, but the Ecuadorian sent his shot wide of the post.

AS: “Gonzalo Plata served (the first goal) caressing the ball to Iván Sánchez and, after dribbling past Pierre-Gabriel at the lime, assisted Aguada from the baseline. In the second half, Valladolid began to dominate ball control and with the extraordinary play of Plata on the right wing, they made it 2-0. The Ecuadorian raced through the bottom line and put Aguada perfectly to score the second with a subtle touch from the penalty spot. He returned Aguado’s gift to Plata in transition, which, however, ended up in the stick.

The world of sports: “Espanyol did not know how to recover from the first goal, and in the 62nd minute Valladolid’s second goal arrived, with which the victory was fixed in the pool. Gonzalo Plata created a mess around Pierre-Gabriel, who replaced the injured Brian Oliván in the first half, and put the ball into the heart of the penalty area so that Álvaro Aguado, completely undisguised, scored at will”.

Valladolid Day: “In the 25th minute, after the loan of Gonzalo Plata to the outside area, Iván Sánchez managed to hit a powerful shot that surprised Pacheco and made it 1-0. Pacheta made the first change. Álvaro Aguado came on for Roque Mesa to ensure consistency in midfield and gained immediate prominence, as he added a goal to Blanquivioleta’s striker after perfectly finishing Silver’s ‘death pass’. 2-0 for Real Valladolid and their fans, committed”.

Valladolid newspaper: “Gonzalo Plata responded with Pacheco’s corner kick. It was the prelude to the first goal: Fresneda forced a free kick in attack, Plata received in the penalty area and served the ball behind for Iván Sánchez to finish dry and cross from distance. The Ecuadorian’s center left Aguado in the penalty box after a spectacular drive down the wing to the goal. The rookie put the ball low into the net: 2-0. Valladolid started the second part with enthusiasm. The entry of Machís gave depth to the left wing, while on the right Plata drove his defenders crazy”.

Tribune of Valladolid: “At the start of the game, both chances from Gonzalo Plata and Jawad El Yamiq could have put Valladolid ahead of Espanyol. In an action that started with a lateral free kick that nobody finished with the ball ended up in Silver’s boot which he gave to Iván Sánchez who made it 1-0 with a shot in front. Álvaro Aguado then finished Plata’s cross at the back, which once again went past his pair down the right wing (2-0). This fact, as in the first half, gave wings to Pacheta’s boys for a few minutes, since the third goal for the home team was closer than the first goal for the visitors”.

North of Castile: “Real Valladolid managed to make it 3-0 on the counter-attack in which Álvaro Aguado cut into the opponent’s territory and served an assist to Gonzalo Plata. The Ecuadorian found himself with the stick when it seemed that the goal was sealed. (81 minutes). As soon as it got more space, Plata started to be the way we know and want it to be. A very good return pass and a good shot by Aguado, but now we have to fulfill Pacheta’s premise and go in search of the third”. (D)