Valencia 3 - Osasuna 0

Valencia: Cañizares; Miguel, Raúl Albiol, Alexis, Caneira; Marchena, Baraja (Edu 81'); Joaquín, David Silva, Mata (Vicente 76'); David Villa (Angulo 85'). 4-2-3-1.
Osasuna: Ricardo; Azplicueta, Cruchaga, Miguel Flaño, Monreal; Astudillo, Puñal (Nekounam 69'); Juanfran (Elía 18'), Plasil, Carlos Vela; Kike Sola (Dady 60'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Cañizares, Joaquín, David Silva for Mora, Maduro, Arizmendi / Osasuna: Monreal for Corrales.

Goals:
1-0. 19. Villa (penalty). After Ricardo sent off for bringing down Villa inside area.
2-0. 51. Mata. Got on end of Villa's wide free kick to turn shot wide of Elía.
3-0. 82. Joaquín. Picked up Villa's square pass and fired shot low past keeper.

The battle to avoid the last relegation spot looks like going down to the wire, with six teams within four points of each other. Valencia took a step towards safety though with a 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Osasuna, thanks in part to a controversial decision by referee Ontanaya López to send off Ricardo and award a penalty to the locals in the twentieth minute, even though the keeper appeared to push the ball away from under the feet of David Villa.

There was a vibrant atmosphere in the Mestalla stadium though after the increasing unpopular Koeman was fired midweek together with all his assistants, and caretaker coach made peace with his three outcasts, Cañizares returning in goal, Angulo starting on the bench and Albelda also back in training.

The keeper had very little to do though, and the Ches wrapped things up after the break, Villa setting up Mata and then Joaquín to beat substitute keeper Elía. Valencia move two points ahead of their opponents in the table, and without Koeman they appear to have turned the corner.