Europa League

Valencia 2 - Villarreal 0

Valencia: Neto; Daniel Wass, Roncaglia, Diakhaby, Toni Lato; Ferrán, Carlos Soler (Gabriel Paulista 46’), Dani Parejo (Coquelin 62‘), Guedes (Lee Kang-In 68’); Gameiro, Santi Mina. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Andrés Fernández; Ratiu, Funes Mori, Víctor Ruiz, Jaume Costa; Raba (Chukwueze 46’), Cáseres (Pablo Fornals 64‘), Morlanes, Trigueros (Javi Fuego 74’), Alfonso Pedraza; Gerard Moreno. 4-5-1.

Goals:
0-1. 13. Toni Lato. Connected with Guedes pass and turned shot past Andrés.
2-0. 54. Parejo. Free kick from outside area which deflected in off Funes Mori.

Yellow cards: Raba 25’, Pedraza 34’, Funes Mori 54’, Ratiu 61’, Coquelin 88’.

Valencia completed the formalities on a rainy Thursday evening in the Mestalla stadium, a 2-0 victory against Villarreal ensuring their place in the semi-finals. Already 1-3 up from the first leg, Toni Lato combined with Guedes to extend the lead in the thirteenth minute. Gameiro lobbed a shot just wide, and Neto had to save from Moreno and Pedraza either side of half time, and some ten minutes in to the second half Dani Parejo wrapped things up with a free kick which took a wicked deflection off Funes Mori to wrong-foot keeper Andrés. After that both coaches reserved their forces for the upcoming league matches, with the hosts looking to win a place in the top four, and their neighbours struggling to avoid the drop. Valencia’s opponents in the semis will be Arsenal, who knocked out Napoli in their quarter final tie.