Valencia: Guaita; Bruno, Maduro, Ricardo Costa,
Jordi Alba; Joaquín, Albelda, Tino Costa (Banega 81'), Mata (Vicente
65'); Aduríz, Soldado (Chori Domínguez 77'). 4-4-2.
Almería: Diego Alves; Juanma Ortíz, Marcelo
Silva, Carlos García, Jakobsen; Mbami (Valeri 76'), Bernadello; Kalu
Uche, Corona (Ulloa 59'), Piatti; Goitom (José Ortíz 69').
4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 26. Soldado. Headed up Bruno's cross and ran on
to beat Diego Alves.
2-0. 57. Soldado. Fired shot past Alves after Mata
flicked on Joaquín cross.
2-1. 90. Ulloa. Got above defence to head
Bernadello corner wide of Guaita.
Yellow cards: Juanma 11', Bruno 35', Ricardo Costa 72', Piatti 80', Marcelo Silva 87'.
Valencia beat Almería 2-1 in the last game on Sunday to stay a point behind fourth placed Espanyol. José Luis Oltra was in charge of the visitors for the first time after taking over from Lillo midweek, and he saw Corona hit the bar for his side with a well struck free kick with twenty minutes on the clock. That was about it though, and Diego Alves had to make a couple of saves before he was finally beaten by Soldado midway through the first half. The Spanish international striker got his second of the night a few minutes after the restart following a well-worked move between Joaquín and Mata, and Alves prevented Joaquín from scoring a third before substitute Ulloa headed a late consolation for the away side. The defeat leaves them still down in the relegation spots, although after the eight goal humiliation against Barcelona last weekend this was a marked improvement.