Valencia conquered the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time in 17 years on Saturday evening, thanks to a brilliant winner of 95 minutes by Hugo Duro. That made it 2-1 for Los CHE, but the man of the Valencia match was undoubtedly goalkeeper Giorgi Mhaldashvili. The Georgian keeper was on his enchanting against Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old was sometimes criticized this year for his slut underwhelming season, at least compared to earlier campaigns in Mestalla, but no one could blame him for his efforts in the Spanish capital this weekend. Not only did he put a Vinicius Junior -Penalty in the first half and rescued Laag to his left, but he continued to make a series of brilliant saves to keep the level of Valencia until they could win.
After the game, Mhaldashvili spoke with the media and admitted that he had made a bet with the Brazilian – who had paid his debts too late.
“I had a conversation with Vinicius and I won € 50 against him,” he told Marca in the mix zone after the game.
“Yes, I asked him if he wanted to play for € 50 and he said yes to me. I stopped the penalty and I won it. He was meant to pay me after the game, but he still didn't give it to me. It's fine,” he said with a touch of smile.
On Saturday, the keeper who had convinced Liverpool was convinced to spend more than € 30 million on him, certainly a proof, and it was a sharp memory that few keepers of his status have the reflexes he does. Undoubtedly his best salvation against Kylian Mbappe came up close and jumped to his left to claw away, which seemed to be a certain goal in the second half.