Arsenal loanee Karl Hein kept a vital clean sheet to help Real Valladolid to leapfrog Valencia and prise themselves off the bottom of La Liga this weekend.
Though he’s received plenty of praise for his performances on loan with Real Valladolid this season, Arsenal loanee Karl Hein hasn’t kept too many clean sheets for the Spanish side so far.
In fairness, that’s more to do with the team’s poor performances as a whole, reflected by their position at the foot of the table ahead of this weekend’s round of matches.
The one positive was that they were facing 19th-place Valencia, knowing that a win would at least lift them above their opposition.
On this occasion, Hein was better protected by his defence, only having to make one save across the 90 minutes.
That’s not to suggest the goalkeeper didn’t have work to do though. He made four high claims, the most of any match he’s played this season.
The end result was a clean sheet and a 1-0 win, taking Real Valladolid up to 19th – at least for now. Valencia have two games in hand, so the two-point gap between the sides could quickly disappear.
Even so, it’s a step in the right direction, and Valladolid are now just three points off escaping the relegation zone.
On an individual level, Hein has made 17 appearances in La Liga, keeping four clean sheets. He also remains a regular starter for Estonia in international matches, playing six times in September, October, and November.
