The sun hung low over Valencia's training complex, casting long shadows across the pristine pitches.
With three games left in the season and Champions League football within reach, every touch, every sprint, and every tactical adjustment carried extra weight.
Rubén Baraja stood at the edge of the training ground, arms crossed, watching his squad move through the drills.
The players, still riding the high of their 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano, knew that the challenge ahead would be even tougher—a trip to San Sebastián to face Real Sociedad, one of the trickiest away fixtures in La Liga.
Across the field, the session was in full swing.
Giorgi Mamardashvili, fresh off his heroics against Rayo, dived low to his right, palming away a fierce strike from Fran Pérez.
On the other side, Hugo Guillamón and Javi Guerra tested each other in tight midfield duels, while Gaya and Thierry Correia worked on overlapping runs.
