Valencia: Diego Alves; Barragán, Mustafi, Otamendi (Lucas Orbán 46’), Gayà; Javi Fuego; Feghouli (Rodrigo 68’), Dani Parejo, Enzo Pérez, Piatti (De Paul 82‘); Negredo. 4-1-4-1.
Real: Rulli; Aritz Elustondo, Ansotegi, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri (Finnbogason 80’); Gorka Elustondo (De la Bella 65‘), Rubén Pardo; Canales (Hervías 46’), Granero, Xabi Prieto; Agirretxe. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 53. Piatti. Shot from Dani Parejo pass which deflected in off Ansotegi.
2-0. 56. Piatti. Got in front of marker to turn Feghouli cross wide of Rulli.
Yellow cards: Gorka Elustondo 12’, Aritz Elustondo 39’, Enzo Pérez 45’, Yuri 75’, De Paul 88’.
Fourth placed Valencia are now just a point behind Atlético Madrid after they beat Real Sociedad 2-0 in this Sunday’s mid-day game, their fourth victory in a row. Diego Alves had to save from Agirretxe early on and Xabi Prieto had a shot blocked, but otherwise the Ches were on top for most of the first half, Rulli having to tip a Mustafi header over the bar and Feghouli and Otamendi failing to find the target. Some seven minutes in to the second half Piatti got on the end of Dani Parejo’s cross following a throw-in to poke a shot in off Ansotegi, and just three minutes later the Argentinian forward scored his second of the day after connecting with Feghouli’s cross. Negredo and Rodrigo went close after that, but the three points were in the bag, and the Ches have a chance to move up to third next Sunday night when they travel to the Calderón stadium.