
Key strength: Link-up play
Target man
At Valencia CF, where the storied club finds itself languishing in 17th place and desperately fighting for survival, Dani Raba plays a crucial if understated role. The 30-year-old Spanish second striker has accumulated 481 minutes across 14 appearances this season, quietly contributing 2 goals and 1 assist despite modest expectations. With a €2.4 million market value and a 57 overall rating, Raba operates in the shadow of teammates Hugo Duro (75 rating) and Lucas Beltrán (70 rating), yet his playing style as a target man emphasizes link-up play that creates space for Valencia's primary attackers. His lack of cards demonstrates discipline, while his moderate pace (55) and shooting (54) stats belie his value as a hold-up player. In a squad where every point matters, Raba's ability to unlock defenses through intelligent positioning—when called upon—adds depth to a Valencia side that cannot afford to overlook any asset in their battle to escape the relegation zone.