Valencia: Guaita; Barragán, Senderos, Mathieu, Bernat; Javi Fuego (Vinícius Araújo 76‘), Oriol Romeu (Feghouli 46’); Vargas, Dani Parejo, Fede; Jonas (Paco Alcácer 58’). 4-2-3-1.
Getafe: Codina; Arroyo, Lisandro López, Rafa (Lacen 76’), Escudero (Alexis 56’); Mosquera, Borja; Pedro León Juan Rodríguez (Sarabia 46’), Lafita; Ciprian. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 07. Vargas. Steered far post header past Codina from Dani Parejo corner.
1-1. 25. Lafita. Picked up Juan Rodríguez clearance and ran on to beat Guaita.
1-2. 27. Ciprian. Diving header wide of keeper after escudero crossed in from left.
1-3. 88. Pedro León. Picked up pass from midfield and held off Senderos to score.
Yellow cards: Escudero 20’, Pedro León 32’, Lisandro López 42’, Mathieu 62’, Dani Parejo 69’, Mosquera 72’, Lafita 85’ / red cards: Mathieu 90’.
Eighth placed Valencia were unable to close up on the Europa League places after they fell to a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Getafe in the last match on Sunday evening. Vargas headed the Ches in to an early lead from a Dani Parejo corner, but soon afterwards Guaita was called in to action to keep out a couple of efforts from Ciprian. Midway through the first half Lafita picked up a long pass from Juan Rodríguez before firing a low shot in off the far post to equalize, and just two minutes later Ciprian got in front of the defence to head Escudero’s cross past the local keeper for his side’s second. Parejo headed against the bar and Vargas brought a reaction save out of Codina before the break, and after the restart the visiting keeper made further stops from Fuego and Senderos, and Alcácer fired in a shot which bounced down off the crossbar on to the line. However with two minutes to go Pedro León made it three on a quick counter-attack, and there were red cards for Mathieu, Cosmin Contra and the Valencia assistant manager as celebrations got out of hand. Getafe can be forgiven for their over-exuberance though as the win was their first in sixteen games, and they move out of the bottom three as a result.