Dani Parejo scored twice to lead Valencia to a 3-1 win over Sevilla as the hosts moved past the Andalusian side into fourth place in La Liga on Sunday.
Sevilla fell two points behind Valencia, but still have a game in hand at leaders Real Madrid on Wednesday next week.
Elsewhere, Malaga came from behind for a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao, four days before the two play for a spot in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Photo: AFP
Christian Stuani scored two goals to help RCD Espanyol beat visitors UD Almeria 3-0 as the Barcelona-based side won their fourth game in a row before they too turn back to the cup competition.
Abel Resino debuted as Granada’s new manager in a 2-2 draw at RC Deportivo de La Coruna, as the league’s bottom side recorded a 16th round without a victory.
The physical and up-tempo contest at the Estadio Mestalla between two sides fighting for Spain’s last UEFA Champions League spot included three penalties, the last of which Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves saved to add to his fame as a penalty-stopping specialist.
Parejo put Valencia ahead in the 18th minute when he converted the match’s first penalty after Diogo Figueras kicked Alvaro Negredo inside the area.
The midfielder slotted in a second goal in the 32nd minute to cap a counterattack started from a poorly taken free-kick by Sevilla’s Gerard Deulofeu.
However, Sevilla pushed forward and Carlos Bacca beat Diego Alves from the spot in the 36th minute after Parejo brought down Figueras.
Bacca had a chance to level the score five minutes later following Joao Cancelo’s rash tackle on Victor “Vitolo” Machin in the penalty area, but this time Diego Alves smothered his spot-kick.
“He fooled me on the first one, but on the second I knew he had the pressure on him, and I went to the same side as I had in the first and stopped it,” Alves said.
“We pulled a bit ahead [of Sevilla], now let’s see if we can stay there,” he said.
Javi Fuego added Valencia’s third goal in the 52nd minute by volleying in Rodrigo Moreno’s pass after Fuego had intercepted goalkeeper Antonio “Beto” Bastos’ errant long ball.
Earlier, Bilbao midfielder Mikel San Jose headed in Markel Susaeta’s corner at the near post in the 70th minute, only for winter reinforcement Javi Guerra to tap home Miguel Torres low cross eight minutes later.
The two teams had already drawn 0-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final on Wednesday last week.
Now, they will prepare to return to the same San Mames Barria for their second-leg decider on Thursday.
In Barcelona, Stuani headed in Sergio Garcia’s short cross in the 37th minute.
He needed three more minutes before rolling in another centered pass from Garcia which was pushed on by Lucas Vazquez for his team-leading 11th goal of the season in all competitions.
Substitute Felipe Caicedo completed the rout of Almeria by extending his scoring run to five goals in four games with a goal in the 74th minute.
Espanyol face Sevilla in the Copa del Rey on Thursday looking to protect a 3-1 lead.
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