Real Madrid's encounter with Valencia at Mestalla witnessed a notable surprise in the right-back position, after coach Álvaro Arbeloa decided to rely on the least likely player on paper compared to the available names.

Despite the royal team traveling to Valencia with three right-backs, the main opportunity went to David Jiménez, the Castilla team right-back, in a decision that reflected clear confidence from the coaching staff in the young player.

This unexpected choice quickly proved its validity on the field, as David Jiménez was the biggest winner on Mestalla night. The young right-back, who has been specially appreciated by Arbeloa since his youth stages, delivered an outstanding performance in his first start in La Liga with the first team of Real Madrid.

On the defensive side, Jiménez showed remarkable maturity and succeeded in limiting the threat of the attacking winger Danjuma, with a clear commitment to defensive duties. He also excelled in calmness and precision in handling the ball, losing only 6 balls, the lowest among Real Madrid defenders, in addition to a successful pass rate of 97%, the highest in the team's backline.

Offensively, Jiménez's impact was no less clear, as he created one of Real Madrid's most dangerous chances with a precise cross that Gonzalo almost converted into a goal but for a few centimeters. He was also the most attempting crosses with three balls, equal to Arda Güler, and directly threatened the goal in the 27th minute with a bold shot that goalkeeper Dmitrievsky brilliantly saved.

A balanced and courageous performance both defensively and offensively by David Jiménez in one of La Liga's toughest stadiums confirmed that betting on him was not a gamble, and that the young player emerged as the biggest winner in the match, opening the door for new opportunities with the first team in the upcoming phase.