First Division - Day 29

Valencia 4 - Getafe 1

Valencia: César; Raúl Albiol, Maduro, Albelda, Moretti; Manuel Fernandes, Michel (Edu 60'); Pablo Hernández, David Silva (Vicente 77'), Mata; David Villa (Morientes 74'). 4-2-3-1.
Getafe: Jacobo; David Cortés, Mario, Belenguer, Licht (Casquero 46'); Manu del Moral, Celestini, Granero, Gavilán; Uche (Contra 69'), Soldado (Ustari 59'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valencia: Albelda, Michel, David Silva, Mata, David Villa for Alexis, Baraja, Edu, Vicente, Morientes / Getafe: David Cortés, Mario, Manu del Moral, Celestini for Contra, Cata Díaz, Casquero, Polanski.

Goals:
1-0. 20. Mata. Picked up David Silva's long pass and drove shot past Jacobo.
2-0. 25. David Villa (penalty). After Licht tripped David Silva inside area.
2-1. 49. Casquero (penalty). After Uche fouled by Albelda inside penalty box.
3-1. 56. Raúl Albiol. Ran through from right of area to drive low shot in off far post.
4-1. 60. David Villa (penalty). After Jacobo sent off for bringing down Villa in area.

Yellow cards: Mario 01', Jacobo 24', 58', Soldado 27', Michel 35' / red cards: Jacobo 58'.

Valencia moved back in to the running for the Champions League spots with a 4-1 victory over Getafe on Sunday evening, and they ended the weekend just two points behind Villarreal. Two goals in a fifteen minute period midway through the first half set them on their way, Mata beating the offside trap to control Silva's long ball strike and shoot wide of Jacobo, and Villa converting a penalty after Licht tripped Silva in the box.

Soldado almost got one back a few minutes later when his shot hit the post, his appeals for a penalty as he was put off by a defender turned down. Jacobo did well to keep out Mata and Pablo soon after the restart, but a couple of minutes later Uche was sandwiched between Albelda and Michel, and Casquero drilled home the resulting spot kick.

Granero brought a good save out of César almost immediately, but within ten minutes it was all over, Raúl Albiol running on to fire a shot in off the post from right of the area, and Villa netting his second penalty of the night after Jacobo brought him down as he advanced on goal. The keeper earned his second yellow card of the night for the foul and substitute Ustari could do nothing to stop the kick. Manu did hit the bar late on, but it was another defeat for Getafe who are now only a point above the drop zone.