The whistle blew to signal the start, and the Mestalla erupted in a wall of noise that seemed to shake the very foundations of the stadium.
The derby had begun, and Valencia, with their young star at the heart of the action, was ready to fight for the region's pride.
The first half of the Derbi de la Comunitat was a frenetic, edge-of-your-seat spectacle, and from the opening moments, it was clear this was a game that would not be decided easily.
Mestalla, packed to the rafters with Valencia supporters, was a cauldron of noise, the white-and-black-clad fans creating an electric atmosphere.
Every cheer, every chant, was a wave of energy that flowed through the team. Among the players, the most visible was Izan.
"The young star has quickly established himself as Valencia's most important player this season as unarguably the best player in the league and tonight, in the derby, he was proving just why.