Valencia: Diego Alves; Barragán, Mustafi, Otamendi, Gayà; Javi Fuego, André Gomes; Feghouli (Rodrigo 77‘), De Paul (Filipe Augusto 74’), Piatti (Lucas Orbán 83’); Negredo. 4-2-3-1.
Rayo: Cristian Alvarez; Tito, Amaya (Manucho 60’), Morcillo, Insúa; Raúl Baena (Clavería 82’), Jozabed; Javier Aquino (Licá 66’), Alberto Bueno, Kakuta; Leo Baptistao. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 13. Feghouli. Got in front of marker to head Barragán centre past Alvarez.
2-0. 34. Feghouli. From close to goal after keeper saved header from Negredo.
3-0. 36. Piatti. Picked up short Negredo pass and ran on to shoot past keeper.
Yellow cards: André Gomes 09’, 71’, Morcillo 32’, Alberto Bueno 44’, Javi Fuego 54’, Insúa 65’, Negredo 74’, Filipe Augusto 76’ / red cards: André Gomes 71’.
Valencia consolidated fifth place after they beat Rayo Vallecano 3-0 on Saturday evening, a first win in five games for Nuno’s side. All the goals came in the first half, Feghouli heading the first from Barragán’s cross with just under a quarter of an hour gone. Alberto Bueno fired a shot just wide at the other end and Leo Baptistao failed to take full advantage when Diego Alves tried to dribble past him and lost the ball, but Feghouli scored his second of the evening on the rebound after Cristian Alvarez pushed Negredo’s header against his own defender, and just two minutes later Piatti won the ball in midfield and ran on to Negredo’s return pass to make it three. Alves had to be at his best to keep out Baptistao and Aquino after the interval, and the Ches were left with ten men when André Gomes picked up a second booking. But even with Manucho and Licá joining the attack Rayo could not find a way through, and substitute Rodrigo could have added to the lead had Alvarez not kept him out near the end.